As this time of year in particular, Penge in deepest southeast London is a very welcoming town – even the Christmas lights hung across the high street say “Merry Pengemas”! Also very welcoming is the tiny theatre above the Bridge House pub just by Penge West station.
The Bridge House Theatre puts on a superb programme of productions throughout the year and tops it off with its annual pantomime. Last year it was the highly praised Sleeping Beauty and this year they’re keeping the beauty theme going with Beauty And The Beast. Once again, it’s written by the theatre’s Artistic Director, Luke Adamson, and directed and choreographed (although to be truthful, there’s not much dancing) by the award-winning Matthew Parker.
Adamson’s version sticks roughly to the story of Beauty And The Beast although this being a fairly traditional panto, he has to shoehorn in a dame, in this case Dame Fifi Frimousse played splendidly by Cameron Griffiths who doesn’t let anything like someone in the audience dropping a toothbrush on the floor and a child who wanted to be part of the action, phase him (her?). There also has to be a villain, and in this production, it’s Lady Amere, played with great gusto by the imposing Cassandra Hodges. To round off the cast of four (well, it’s not the London Palladium) is Theo Bracey as The Beast (aka Prince Philipe Phacochere) and Beauty (Belle) played by Georgina May Haley. The other “performer” is stage manager Tom Thornhill, who not only runs the lighting and sound cues but also brings on props and even has a line or two.
Like all good pantos, there are a number of songs – I spotted “The One And Only” and “Find Your Grail” (from Spamalot) amongst others. There are, of course, topical jokes with references to “Prince” Andrew, Alan Carr and the Reform Party. Adamson mainly avoids the usual panto tropes, although there is a “slosh” scene where Dame Fifi gets covered with cream pies, which causes mayhem and probably the only double entendre in the script – this is a very family-friendly show. There’s no room for scene changes in the tiny space, so the different locales, including the village square, the Great North Wood, and the Prince’s castle, are projected onto the rear wall, and the few props are borrowed from the pub downstairs (as I said, this isn’t the London Palladium). There are also cameo appearances from Adamson as Bla Bla Gabor and George Lester as That Girl, and it would have been nice to have seen some more of these two fabulous drag queens.
Beauty And The Beast is a lot of fun, and everyone involved seems to be really enjoying what they’re doing. The Bridge House Theatre has always been about the local community, and that community seems to be really appreciative of the work Adamson and his small team are doing to bring a proper theatre to the town, as many of the performances of Beauty And The Beast are sold out. So if you want to get tickets before it closes, then you’ll need to hurry. And whilst you’re there, do wish them a Merry Pengemas.
Review by Alan Fitter
In the quaint French village of Pénge-su-mer, the beautiful and headstrong Belle dreams of a life beyond the everyday. But high above the village, in the shadowy Great North Wood, the vain and arrogant Prince Philipe Phacochère rules from his hilltop castle with an iron fist, making life miserable for all. When he cheats his way to victory in the annual thumb-war championship, he earns the wrath of a wicked fairy — and a dreadful curse. Transformed into a hideous beast, the Prince must now discover the true meaning of love… or remain a monster forever.
Belle – Georgina May Haley
Prince Philippe Phacochere – Theo Bracey
Dame Fifi Frimousse – Cameron Griffiths
Lady Amere – Cassandra Hodges
Writer – Luke Adamson
Director and Choreographer – Matthew Parker
Musical Director – Zara Harris
Lighting Designer – Steve Berryman
Sound Designers – Luke Adamson and Tom Thornhill
Video/Projection Designer – Luke Adamson
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Bridge House Theatre
13 to 30 December 2025
