ALADDIN Comes To The Grand Opera House

Aladdin, the 3D panto adventure of a lifetime, has been dazzling the critics, and earning a string of rave reviews along the way!

Writing in The Stage, Jane Coyle notes, ‘A new day has dawned for Belfast. After years of conflict, a vibrant city is emerging, full of confidence and optimism. This is reflected in the Grand Opera House's Christmas panto, which washes out the stale old format of the past and ushers in a big, swaggering show, with top quality production values, a strong cast - with not a C-list celebrity name among them - and a thrilling 3D experience for today's alternative reality generation.'

‘The benchmark is set from the off as we encounter Gavin Woods's sleazy Abanazar in his lair, a towering, gloomy cavern, where he plots his course to becoming master of the world. The scene shifts to a picturesque village near old Peking, where young Aladdin (AiDan O'Neill) lives with his clucky mother Widow May Twankey (May McFettridge). The familiar tale unfolds of Aladdin's quest to win the hand of Princess Jasmine (Shinead Byrne).'

‘But the familiar is overtaken by a stunning series of special effects, conjuring up a 3D genie, some genuinely terrifying birds and creatures and an awesome journey over rivers, forests and desert to challenge Abanazar in his den. Under the musical direction of Mark Dougherty, Aladdin's rite of passage is brought to brilliant life by spectacular sets and costumes and excellent vocals - a real treasure trove of a pantomime.'

Anne Hailes, reviewing for The Irish News comments, ‘In this pantomime, it isn't behind you, it's in front of you. Right in front of your very eyes.'

‘Every pantomime needs that little extra to make it different - the love story, the baddie, the slapstick, the dancers are all there, but the Grand Opera House lives up to its name this year with this three-dimensional magic...go and see this 3D Genie and his lamp do amazing things...'

Aladdin continues at the Grand Opera House until Saturday 16 January. Tickets are available from Box Office in the theatre foyer, online at www.goh.co.uk or by calling 9024 1919.

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