Storyhouse’s Christmas show of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a pastel-coloured, joy-filled reimagining of the classic tale, delivered with charm, humour and important messages like all good seasonal shows should. From the moment the show opens, it’s clear this is a production that wants to have fun – and invites the audience to do the same.

The cast’s chemistry stands out as one of the production’s greatest strengths. The teamwork is slick, vibrant, and consistently engaging, with choreography that adds energy without ever overwhelming the storytelling. In my opinion, it felt quite overly complicated in its setting of the scene at the beginning, with a lot of characters being talked about before we’d seen them

As the story develops, we fall in love with everyone (even the baddies!) The Beast’s journey is particularly striking; while the first act lays the groundwork, it’s in the second act where he truly blossoms and becomes one of the emotional anchors of the show.

The musical choices are bold and diverse, featuring unexpected selections such as ‘Die With a Smile’, ‘Creep’, ‘Pink Pony Club’ and ‘APT’. While some of these numbers fit wonderfully – offering humour, poignancy or a fresh tone – others feel slightly more at odds with the narrative. Even so, the cast delivers them with commitment, smoothing over most of the stylistic jumps through sheer performance quality.

Visually, the show is a treat. The soft pastel colour palette gives the production a whimsical, modern fairytale feel, making the world both inviting and distinctive. It matches the playful spirit of the show, especially in moments of audience participation. The traditional pantomime-style “It’s behind you!” dialogue and the traditional scary forest scene landed perfectly, and the audience interaction throughout helps keep both adults and children delighted.

At its heart, this production delivers a thoughtful message: not to fear the differences we see in others, but to approach them with curiosity, conversation, and acceptance. It’s woven gently through the humour and spectacle, leaving audiences with something meaningful to carry home.

Fun, heartfelt, and full of character, Storyhouse’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a charming ensemble triumph with a warm message and plenty of sparkle. A wonderfully entertaining night out for all ages.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️