Hi everyone and welcome back to another review! We’re heading into the festive season, which means we’re entering my favourite time of year… Pantomime season!

This year at The Mercury Theatre is “Mother Goose” — definitely not your traditional pantomime story! When it was first announced, I wasn’t sure how it would work, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The show begins in a very traditional pantomime way, with a fairy welcoming us back — the amazingly talented Sasha Latoya, returning for her fifth. year at The Mercury! She sets the scene brilliantly and gets the audience going right from the start. After the first song, we learn that Gertie Goose (Anthony Stuart-Hicks) owns and runs a local circus. Times are hard for the family, especially as she has taken in a goose as her son, Billy Goose (Dale Superville), along with her daughter, Gracie Goose (Daisy Greenwood). Then one day, their landlady, the very wealthy Baroness Bellinora Badapple (Jaimie Pruden), raises the rent to ridiculous amounts! It becomes a quest to stop the evil Baroness from taking everything they hold most dear.

This has to be the BEST pantomime The Mercury has ever produced! They had the audience captivated from beginning to end. From Sasha’s and Jaimie’s incredible vocal performances to Ash and Dale’s perfect comedic timing, it was a show I never wanted to end! The sets and costumes were pure panto magic — full of glitter, colour, and stunning design. The Mercury has truly brought the magic of pantomime to life this year.

There was fair use of pyrotechnics — sometimes a little tricky, and at times the lighting was slightly harsh on my eyes. But the sheer enjoyment of the show made all of that melt away, and I was able to fully enjoy it. If I had to pick at anything, I would have liked to see more of a story arc for Gracie Goose and Bailey (Kemi Clarke). It felt like these characters were mainly there as the love-interest element of the pantomime, and I would have enjoyed seeing more of them and having their backstories developed further.

It wouldn’t be a pantomime review from me without giving special mention to Anthony Stuart-Hicks and Dale Superville!

This year marks ten years at The Mercury Theatre, and this pantomime truly feels like a celebration of their time here. Even if it hadn’t been planned that way, you can tell that the show was written with them in mind. There was a huge roar every time they came on stage — and rightly so! Their comic timing, laugh-out-loud jokes and undeniable chemistry have been the beating heart of The Mercury’s pantomimes, year after year. They are exactly what pantomime should be. They’ve helped transform The Mercury’s pantomime from a much-loved local tradition into a national player within theatre and pantomime circles. They are the reason I, my family and so many others return to The Mercury year after year. They are the sole reason the pantomime is as successful as it is — and will continue to be for years to come.

Making this year a celebration of the pair was absolutely the right decision. I always worry each year might be their last together! To Ash and Dale — as I’ve said, you are the beating heart of this pantomime and The Mercury itself. It simply wouldn’t be the same, nor would Christmas, without you.

I genuinely can’t give the two of them enough praise without repeating everything I’ve said in previous years. They are pantomime gold.

Accessibility Rating

If you have little to no vision:
Yes, you will miss out on some of the visual magic, but in terms of enjoying the story, songs and comedy (even without Audio Description), you can absolutely still have a great time. You will miss some physical comedy gags, though the show works hard to keep these to a minimum. Audio Described performances and Touch Tours are available, and if you can’t get tickets for those, don’t be disheartened — you’ll still have an absolutely brilliant evening out.

Limited or Useful Vision:
As mentioned above, there is a lot of lighting, glitter and reflective effects. Pyrotechnics are used a few times and can be bright, but they’re not prolonged — with the exception of the ‘beauty’ scene, where the lighting stays bright slightly longer than expected.

For seating, I suggest Row E or closer. But be warned: if you choose the front row, you’re in for a completely unique experience!

“Mother Goose” is running at The Mercury Theatre from 22nd November 2025 until 18th January 2026. Ticket information and further details can be found by clicking the link here — but hurry, tickets are selling fast!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!
Until Next Year!

The VI Critic