Rob Salmon

Theatre review: Aladdin: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto from Leeds Heritage Theatres at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Theatre review of Aladdin: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto (Peter Rowe) from Leeds Heritage Theatres at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds - reviewer: James Ballands

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THEATRE | Aladdin: The Rock 'n' Role Panto at City Varieties | the CULTURE VULTURE Flashy lights, ridiculously cute Christmas jumpers, ice creams and sweets — of course it’s that time of year again: panto

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Review: Aladdin The Rock’n’Roll Panto at Leeds City Varieties Thursday 4th December 2025 at Leeds City Varieties  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reviewer: Natalie Potter  Take yourself to Aladdin, The Rock’n’ Roll panto at the City Varieties, and from the very moment y…

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Aladdin: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto - City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds - The Reviews Hub Director: Rob Salmon Writer: Pete Rowe Welcome to Kirkgate Market, the vibrant heart of Leeds, bursting with lights, music, and excitement. This year’s production of Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto t...

Aladdin is open and it’s 5 stars all round. It’s my 21st Panto. 16th by Pete Rowe and, for now, my last. Next year I get to take the reins as writer at the City Varieties Music Hall. Being a part of so many people’s Christmas and putting some more joy into the world is an absolute privilege.

Back for my sixth stint as Director at the magical City Varieties Music Hall for Aladdin - the Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto!

A company of actors take the stage

A rare treat to be back where it all began for the SJT in Scarborough Library to celebrate the work of Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Directing a reading of ‘Confusions’ with fab team of Ayckbourn regulars, including Chris Godwin from the original cast… with the original script!

Ed Fringe continues to showcase some of the world’s finest creativity. The theatre offer may be struggling to meet the financial demands of the fringe, but there’s still excitement on offer in various darkened rooms across the city. Also pleased to say that top knots have been replaced… by mullets!

I was invited to see War Horse tonight, which I’ve managed to miss in its 18 years, and whilst it feels somewhat diminished from its original outing it still contains multiple moments of absolute theatrical joy. The core story of the boy and the horse is an exemplary piece of pure storytelling.

A montage of images showing a teenage house party

Four teenagers sit on exam tables each with a microphone in front of them

Two young men dance together

A teenager boy and girl stand in front of two large gas canister cages

CAREER PATH. In 2010 we launched what went onto become the multi-award recognised ‘People You May Know’ dedicated to making original work with prevocational theatre makers about their perspective on the world. It started with ‘Party Piece’, then 6 more incredible stories followed. A privilege.

Edinburgh and out… 2.5 days to see 18 performances via 7.5 hours on trains 5.5 hours of delayed trains and over 35,000 steps. My own bed is calling!

6. Everything Must Go - Kristen Fredericksson (Pulse Fest)
7. Palace of the End - Judith Thompson (Traverse)
8. Moby Dick - Spymonkey (New Wolsey Theatre)
9. Institute (R&D) - Gecko (Pulse Festival)
10. I Hope My Heart Goes First - Junction25 (Ed Fringe)

1. Are You With Us? Gob Squad (Spill Festival)
2. The Hamilton Complex - Hetpaleis/Lies Pauwels (Unicorn)
3. Villa Villa - De La Guarda (Roundhouse)
4. Mission Drift - TEAM (Traverse)
5. Bravo Figaro - Mark Thomas (Pulse Festival)

...the 1,000's and 1,000's of productions there are some career defining and genuinely life changing experiences. If there's a recurring theme it's bold, surprising and probably dangerous work, with high quality or just bloody well done work finding itself on an ever evolving list...

I've been musing on some of the work I've seen over the last however long that I've enjoyed the most, or found the most stimulating - as a venue programmer you get to see a lot of work and you have to learn to find value in things that don't necessarily match your own taste, but amongst...

PULSE BROCHURE FRONT

PULSE MUSIC NIGHT IN THE NEW WOLSEY BAR

POLICE COPS POSTER

PULSE AUDIENCE FROM ABOVE

CAREER PATH. Pulse Fringe Festival connected a wide variety of theatre makers with Ipswich audiences. Dedicated to new work and new ideas, it punched way above its weight in the sector - working alongside Ed & Paul from China Plate and leading Pulse Presents at the NW Studio was a career highlight.

Happy 29 year old impressed with his haul of arcade tickets

miserable 29 year old after 15 minutes trying to get the machine to accept the tickets

Evening on the sea front with the son. Big ticket win followed by the lengthy process of claiming them back. How it started v How it ended!

A young actor sits in a circle of chairs, scrolling through his phone.

'FERAL' won both the award for Best Theatre at Scarborough Fringe, and the inaugural Chris Mellor Award for New Writing in Theatre. Many congrats to all of the other worthy winners and nominees. Nice way to spend a Thursday evening!

I’ll be Edinburgh bound for a short trip to check out some potential programming for the SJT. I’ve managed to squeeze 19 shows into my 2.5 days, so there’s little room for much else. I used to do this and drink a pint between each show, I couldn’t manage a bottle of water these days! Wish me luck!

YouTube video by Stephen Joseph Theatre Battleground | Full performance | SJT

This is ‘Battleground’ a short play by young theatre maker Keane Liley, directed by yours truly, and supported by playwright Josh Overton. The play explores the challenges some young people face escaping the identity they’re given, and the fight to change their story. It’s 30 mins. Give it a try!

The actor stands in a circle of chairs filled with students.

The actor performs to an audience member

The actor interacts with the audience of students

The Actor stands rehearsing in a circle of chairs.

‘Feral’ has been nominated for Best Theatre and The Chris Mellor Award for New Writing in Scarborough Fringe. A privilege to tell this story and support the journey of this brilliant young theatre maker. The first part of the trilogy ‘Battleground’ can be seen here www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eWi...

Scarborough on top form today.

An eclectic mix of chairs arranged in a circle. One has a pile of beer cans beneath and an actor sits scrolling through his phone on another.

We performed the first outing of FERAL to an overwhelming response. It’s been an immense privilege to tell this story and it looks like we might be sharing it with a lot more people. Here’s to the next steps.

The early morning start to get to London for Panto auditions.

The view from the pier. Scarborough at night.

Two men in cowboys hats talking into a video camera stood in front of a giant illuminated sign reading ‘VERNON’ from a production of Vernon God Little.

A policeman hanging off a kitchen window from CANT PAY WONT PAY

A boy lit by fire light with a Victorian governess in the background from THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Richard Hannay and Isabella Schmidt watching a performance from the box in THE 39 STEPS

CAREER PATH. The New Wolsey poached me away from the Dukes in ‘08 and I spent the next decade leading Creative Learning, Artist Development, work with Young Theatre Makers, and Studio programming as their Associate Director. 99 productions later the achievements were as rich as they were rewarding.

The cover of Mike Bradwell’s Reluctant Escapologist Adventures in Alternative Theatre

I almost crossed paths with the great Mike Bradwell many times. It’s a sad day to hear of his passing. The reach of his work will last for generations and for those who missed their chance to meet the man this is a bloody good place to start, and an acutely aimed kick up the arse to the rest of us!

DNA by Dennis Kelly Directed by Rob Salmon - A teenage boy stands surrounded by other teenagers

Thor's Great Big Adventure written and directed by Rob Salmon - Thor, the wandering Walrus takes a big stretch as he settles down on the Scarborough foreshore for big snooze

Education Education Education by the Wardrobe Ensemble - Tobias the German Language assistant explains what's going on at Wordsworth Comprehensive School

Captain Cliff & the Seagull Squad - Captain Cliff and his pet dog Bingo await the arrival of the Seagull Squad

It's World Day of Theatre for Children & Young People. Here's a few of the productions I've written and/or directed for the SJT in the last 2 years. The success of this programme of work is growing that audience all the time, and our investment in young theatre makers is clear.

YouTube video by Stephen Joseph Theatre Education Education Education | 11 - 15 March

youtu.be/lA9W8WVX-VQ?...
All done… time to start on the next one!

The Poster v The Cake. It’s tradition here at the SJT to celebrate every in house production with a specially designed cake. This one came with edible ink pens for the cast to graffiti.

I started the first ep of ‘Adolescence’ late at night and felt compelled to finish the whole thing in one sitting. Absolutely brutal. It’s as corrosive as it is coruscating, and that third episode is just something else. An object lesson in detail and range.