Darnall Musical Theatre Company’s Mother Goose – 19 February 2026, Darnall Education Centre
Review by Claire Taranaski.
I have been meaning to check out Darnall Musical Theatre Company for a while and it was worth the wait, with a cracking family friendly community and youth panto that offered something for everyone from six to 106. It also introduced me to my one of favourite dame of all time, and I have seen a lot of panto dames.
Darnall MTC is not just a company at the heart of it’s community, this production was even set in the town of Darnall Upon Dearne but feels like a community in itself, with the support and bond between the cast and crew shining through, to the wonderful point where the production team join the cast on stage to take part in both the finale and the “Abba Megamix” rather than them just being the general acknowledgement other companies may provide. The panto was also written by a member of the company, Olivia T Swords, and this showed with a superb script up there with other professional panto scripts that was inoffensive but laugh out loud funny, featured over 60 years of references from Cilla Black to Labubus, and rewarding regular attenders with throw backs to previous shows whilst welcoming new fans
Director and musical director Janet Black and choreographer Sara Kitchen got the best out of the cast and large ensemble, making the most of everyone involved and their comedic, acting and musical talents. Musical numbers such as “Gotta Start Somewhere” got the best out of the full ensemble including some clever footwork whilst “Do You Hear The People Sing” advertised their superb talent for musical theatre (my six year old daughter has already requested to see their forthcoming production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”) and this left me safe in the knowledge that they could also successfully deliver a production of “Les Misérables”. In terms of musical numbers I must also recognise the use of “Ghostbusters” for the “we’re have to do it again” scene (why has no other panto company thought of this choice) and for writing their own song sheet.
As mentioned the dame, aka Mother Goose, played by chair and producer Jack Taylor immediately surprised me by being one of my best dames of all time. Jack’s confidence, stage presence, comedic timing and performance skills shined through and if I hadn’t known better I immediately thought it was the actor and comedian John Thompson venturing into pantos. As chair of the company Jack already had a connection with everyone involved and this connection and love for the company and all it’s members shone through in this production, whilst also having a love for the audience, sweetly welcoming my own daughter on stage for the previously mentioned song sheet. Jack also had the best costumes of the night, from crisp packet in Barbie packaging, to Fairly washing up liquid and the best wigs (courtesy of Sarah Betts in costumes and wig stylist and dresser Angela Kettlewell). However, Jack also showed a rare touching vulnerability to the traditional dame’s character in the glow in dark visit to London accompanied by “Don’t Rain On My Parade”, which will stay with me for a long time. All in all Jack offered everything you want and more from a perfect panto dame.
There’s a mini gaggle of geese in this production and all of them are golden with the friendship and connection between all of them shining through. Mother Goose’s children “G’day Goosy” Goose Goose played by Annabelle Taylor and Billie Goose played by Wray Williamson-Batham had a natural onstage chemistry that many really life siblings cannot achieve and their rendition of “BEST” with Jack was both the musical highlight of the show and also left me craving a sandwich from Goose Grill, whilst Charlotte Hunt as Cilla The Goose rocked the larger than life goose outfit, Cilla Black references and the “Larger Than Life” musical numbers whilst getting out of physically having to lay the golden eggs on stage.
In a show full of talented youngsters oozing confidence, attitude and talent I must also mention my daughter’s favourite character, the panto positive Pixie Quinn, played so wonderfully by Maiya Green that when the character got upset with the situation in Darnall Upon Dearne my daughter had to check with me that she would be ok whilst also wondering if it was magic that made her wings move; and at a time when the media is full of Brooklyn Beckham’s fall out with his family, having visions that Brooklyn will turn into Dylan Bowman’s self-centred and naïve portray of the new Mayor in years to come, whilst not being as entertaining as Dylan. However every panto needs a baddie and Charlie Betts offered a uniquely entertaining take on the role as a political consultant that Malcolm Tucker would have been proud of, but as this is a family show without the language, a suit that the Mask and the Riddler would be fighting to borrow and showcasing superb vocal talents in his solo rendition of “One Way Or Another”.
All in all Darnall MTC’s panto is a fun, uplifting and entertaining night out for all the family that confirms even in February panto season is not behind you and why you should support the future of your local theatre community.
