Frostbite, Who Pinched My Muff?

The Garden Theatre at Eagle London was one of the first venues in London to stage live performances after this year’s first lockdown, so it’s no surprise that it was one of the first out of the blocks for panto season.

Written by Gareth Joyner, aka Moira DuBois, and directed by Robert McWhir, you know you’re in safe hands before you even sit down for the show. And the excellent cast ensures that you don’t leave the theatre disappointed. Very much in the vein of a family panto – if you forget the C-bombs, F-bombs and adult toys – Frostbite delivers on every traditional level, with (COVID-safe) booing, hissing and he’s behind you-ing. 

It’s a cast of seven, which does lead to some staging challenges but, who cares, it’s panto! And the cast is excellent. Kingsley Morton gives an assuredly commanding performance as Fairy Snowflake. Bessy Ewa’s Greta is both joyously perky and potty-mouthed. She’s perfectly matched to Shelley Rivers’ Garbo, who is everything a principal boy should be. As Bergermeister Kai, Tom Keeling is a wonderfully, understated foil. James Lowrie’s Lumiokko is adorable. Kitsch, camp and cute with a wonderful singing voice, James is one to watch. Dereck Walker delivers a classy, old-school Dame Herda Gerda and Nathan Taylor’s energetic Demon Frostbite commands the stage with his perfectly pitched – in all senses – villain.

Assuming tiers don’t change, book now for a bite of tradition.

Daryl Bennett