Award-winning panto pioneers, He’s Behind You! (Special Recognition Award, 2025’s UK Pantomime Awards) are renowned for merging pantomime traditions with the sharper edges of adult comedy. With over a decade of panto experience from making the legendary adult pantomimes at the now closed LGBT+ venue Above The Stag Theatre, the team are now firmly established as He’s Behind You!, and follow the successes of Sleeping Beauty Takes A Prick! and Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper! with this unmissable night of romance and showstopping spectacle for adults.
Review by Richard Lambert
This is a very funny pantomime! With innuendo scat-tered throughout it’s a laugh a minute and all propelled by a highly energetic cast who give it their all.
The production values are unbelievable. The Set design (David Shields) is the best set I’ve ever seen at the Charing Cross Theatre and I’ve seen almost every large production ever staged there. It’s clever with lots of movement and changes. Even incorporating a roll cloth to overcome the lack of a fly floor and smooth transitions. The costumes (Robert Draper) to die for, the budget must have been enormous!
Gotta love the musicality of this show! New compositions and lyrics all aiding the story (Jon Bradfield) under the incredibly talented Aaron Clingham as musical director. The writing (Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper) had a few more twists and turns than strictly necessary. The musical numbers beautifully choreographed and staged (Carole Todd). More of these numbers would be welcomed! Holding it all together with an experienced steady comedic hand is the director (Andrew Beckett) who knows how to tease a laugh out of anything.
All the cast gave superb performances but special mention must be give to the Beast and the Dame. Keanu Adolphus Johnson (Charlie) and Matthew Baldwin (Flora) truly exceptional performances in their respective roles.
This could very easily be 5 Stars however coming in at just under 3 hours it would benefit from some script trim a magical transformation of the Beast into the handsome prince. Jumping off-stage and then running back on in prince’s attire didn’t quite provide the emotional thrill we all know and have come to love thanks to Disney’s Broadway and West End productions.
You’ll go a long way to have such a great laugh on a night out this Christmas!
Cast
Laura Anna-Mead
Owen Arkrow
Matthew Baldwin
Keanu Adolphus Johnson
Matt Kennedy
Chris Lane
Ben Mabberley
Dani Mirels
Olivia-Grace Weaver
Creatives
Writer Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper
Composer Jon Bradfield
Director Andrew Beckett
Choreographer Carole Todd
Musical Director/Orchestrator Aaron Clingham
Set Designer David Shields
Costume designer Robert Draper
Sound Designer Andrew Johnson
Lighting Designer Matt Hockley
Producer Oli Sones for He’s Behind You!
Casting Harry Blumenau Casting
Guidance 18+, Adults only. Contains swearing, sexual themes, flashing lights.
Dates 21st November – 11th January 2025
Captioned Performance – Wednesday 10th December, 7.30pm
Location Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NL
Running Time 2 hours, 15 minutes (including interval)
Social Media @HBYPantos
Website www.hesbehindyou.com