Paul Vale

Off to The Stage Awards this afternoon at the Royal Opera House. Best of luck to all the nominees!!! Must be about the 30th anniversary of The Stage New Year event.

It’s a two show day today, but first a jaunt into the West End for a little light Xmas shopping. Then off to Bromley for Beauty & The Beast at the Churchill followed by Goldilocks in Milton Keynes.

So it’s Panto Day and I’m up before the judge. Judge Rinder that is and Lesley Joseph at the New Victoria in Woking. My second Snow White of the season and my first of a 4 show weekend.

I wonder if the Ascot Gavotte will be re-worked into Pink Pony Club? #pantovsmusicals

In a complete change of pace, today I am off to the Mill At Sonning to catch its new production of My Fair Lady. I was lucky enough to catch Joseph Pitcher’s production here in 2017, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have had to run through so many towns to make sure I get the last train home, it must look absurd.

It was a two-show day yesterday in Colchester and then at the Charing Cross. Tonight I’m heading over to Basildon for Sleeping Beauty at the Towngate.

Tonight I am off to the Salisbury Playhouse for its in-house pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk. Adored last year’s Sleeping Beauty so I have high hopes.

Tonight I’m in Guildford and the lovely @yvonnearnaud.bsky.social for my first Beauty And The Beast of the week. Miserable weather outside but it’s warm and welcoming here.

It’s been a full-on week of pantomime and I’m pleased to report that trends are already showing. 6/7 has popped up in most of them. Adaptations of Pink Pony Club too, along with references to Katy Perry, with pops at Elon Musk, Trump and Starmer/Reeves.

A change of pace slightly as I’m heading off to Newbury and @watermilltheatre.bsky.social for it’s Christmas show The Little Mermaid. And this time, Sean Barrett is coming with me.

You’d think on a press night it would be safe. But no, tonight I made my debut on the TRSE stage as a dancer. I suspect Strictly won’t be calling….

This evening it’s Moma Goose at Theatre Royal Stratford East. I can usually rely on the Stratford panto to put a fresh spin on an old story.

Dick Whittington at the Oxford Playhouse: sounds of the 1990s Read our review of Dick Whittington at the Oxford Playhouse: Toby Hulse delivers a Britpop pantomime that’s big on sounds and rich with comedy

★★★★ Review: Dick Whittington – Toby Hulse delivers a Britpop pantomime that’s big on sounds and rich with comedy 👇

So tonight, I’m off to my first Cinderella of the season at the @theatrewindsor.bsky.social It’s sure to be a classy, dignified, well-ordered affair with Kevin Cruise at the helm as Butttons. Especially with Basil Brush to keep him in check……oh wait!

You know you are at a panto in Oxford when there’s a shout-out to all the lads and lasses from the astrophysics department #worksouting

Tonight I’m hot-footing it to the @oxfordplayhouse.bsky.social to see its Dick Whittington. I’ve naturally seen many Dicks in my time, but this will probably be the first to celebrate the 1990s. If it’s anything like last year’s Sleeping Beauty, I’m in for a treat!

Heading out to deepest Essex tonight for another Jack And The Beanstalk, this time @queenstheatreh.bsky.social . It’s been a while since I’ve ventured this way but I’ve only ever heard good things about this panto.

Cracking start to my festive season. Highlights included the @royalvariety.bsky.social and the truly incomparable @saltybrine.bsky.social doing his Cyndi Lauper show. Then last night @lyrichammersmith.bsky.social were back on form with a truly heartwarming Jack & The Beanstalk.

On my way to my first family pantomime of the season - Jack & The Beanstalk at the @lyrichammersmith.bsky.social Hopefully I’ll dry off before the show starts.

Heading home after the gala performance of The Talented Mr Ripley @richmondtheatre.bsky.social - brilliant work all round, not least the talented Mr McVey

Make the trip out to see this! You won’t regret it!

As part of what I am now calling my Adaptation Weekend, I am now heading to Woking to catch the tour of The Talented Mr Ripley. Last night I skipped over to Richmond for Death On The Nile, which sadly wasn’t playing on a luxury paddle steamer down the Thames.

Heading into the West End for the The Stage Debut Awards - the annual event that celebrates the achievements of people new to the industry. There’s always such good buzz at this do. Best of luck to all the nominees. Julian Clary is hosting so anything is possible.

Well Spook at the London Performance Studio is a hoot! Very funny and ripe for a full-on production if you ask me! Nice to see @thisisAlanTurk in full-on frustrated cleric mode!

So many worthy nominees on here. It’s going to be a tough call.

Or just have an adventure of your own. The energy of the Fringe is still amazing and the beauty of this city, inspirational. The Stage team Natasha Tripney Lyn Gardner, Fergus Morgan and Rachel Chambers have all helped me navigate my 10th year at the Ed Fringe, for which I am eternally grateful.

Heading home from the Ed Fringe. As ever, it’s been a real adventure. The Fringe continues for another week, so these shows were favourites :-
Footballer’s Wives - The Musical
Hot Mess
DYKE Systems Ltd
Jeezus!!
No Apologies
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Orpheus
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Edie
Dreamscape

Actual footage of me today…

I have arrived in Edinburgh, after a mercifully easy journey. Lovely staff on the @lner.co.uk Now waiting for the keys to the flat. Can’t wait to unpack and head out. It’s a three-show day today.