Praise for Chelmsford Theatre’s “truly wonderful” Aladdin panto

Chelmsford Theatre’s 2025 panto production – Aladdin – officially opened over the weekend, and audiences and critics are already calling it “as good as the West End”.

This year’s panto tells the mystical tale of Aladdin. Audiences will love this true-to-story production following the brave Aladdin and friends, who enlist the help of a magic ring, a wish granting genie, an adventure-seeking princess, and Chelmsford audiences, to defeat the wicked sorcerer, Abanazar.

Strong musical numbers and an outstanding cast

This year’s panto is going down a treat with both critics and audiences, who’ve praised its musical numbers, audience participation and brilliant casting. Southend Theatre Scene gave the production five stars, calling it “a panto with a difference” and praising its “incredible production numbers”, while the Halstead Gazette called it a “cracker” of a show. Ovation Radio said: “If your three wishes are for a superb cast, impressive staging and a heartwarming story then you won’t be disappointed with this pantomime!”

Visit Essex called Aladdin “a delightful treat for all ages… packed with laughter, and plenty of audience participation”, and Chelmsford For You dubbed it “a truly wonderful experience and highly recommended this festive season”.

The “excellent” cast was particularly commended by critics. Southend Theatre Scene praised Lori Haley Fox’s (Empress) performance of Mama’s Good to You from Chicago, as well as Zachary Pang (Aladdin) and Rachel Macdougall’s (Jasmine) “great chemistry on stage” and “excellent vocals”. Ovation Radio meanwhile singled out Gabrielle Davina Smith’s Genie for her “West End-worthy voice and a whole lot of sass!”, and the Braintree & Witham Times loved Bob Harm’s brilliantly evil baddie, Abanazar.

Audiences have also adored this year’s show, with comments including:

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“Absolutely wonderful, a really polished performance – as good as the West End!”

Audience member

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“The show is incredible”

Audience member

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“It’s really good, great for the kids”

Audience member

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“I really liked it, I really want to go again!”

Audience member

Tickets selling fast for theatre’s biggest show of the year

Aladdin is proving popular with audiences and seats are selling fast for this year’s show. Tickets are over 90% sold, with best availability now for December weekday performances and shows in early January 2026.

With 65 performances taking place across five weeks, panto is the biggest event in Chelmsford Theatre’s calendar. The theatre produces its panto in-house each year, with the team managing sound design, stage production, marketing and general management. Partners One From The Heart work alongside the theatre on the script, music, choreography and casting.

Theatre Director, Rhys Thomas, is delighted to see the theatre deliver another first-rate panto for Chelmsford:

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“Panto season is our most important time of the year. It sets us up for the year ahead, so it’s critical that we get it right. And, as our first reviews and audience feedback for 2025 so far show, we’re absolutely getting it right!

“I’m absolutely thrilled to see our first audiences having a wonderful time at Aladdin – booing, cheering and laughing louder than ever before (if that’s even possible!) and leaving the theatre with big smiles on their faces. Huge credit must go to our director, Ryan-Lee Seager, and our associate producer, Daryl Back, as well as our incredible cast and wider creative team for this year’s outstanding show. So much hard work has gone into it and I’m so proud of the team for building on last year’s success to present a bigger and better panto than ever before.”

Rhys Thomas, Chelmsford Theatre Director

Book your tickets for Aladdin at www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/event/aladdin