Herts &amp; Beds

Saturday night at <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/beam-hertford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BEAM</a> and the downstairs bar is buzzing with pre-panto energy. Christmas decorations and twinkling lights create a warm, festive glow and there’s enough time for drinks (and snacks for the children) before we are ushered to our theatre seats. First impressions? The stage. Oh la la! Dressed as a Parisian street with Dame Madeleine Marzipan’s sweet shop front and centre, it’s a gorgeous, scene-setting delight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/eSMERELDA-1000x667.jpg" alt="Esmerelda the Enchantress Davina De Campo" class="wp-image-93526" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/eSMERELDA-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/eSMERELDA-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/eSMERELDA.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The lights dim, the music starts and boom, a burst of smoke reveals Esmerelda the Enchantress (Davina De Campo) in a fabulously outrageous outfit. Slick, professional and wonderfully theatrical, Campo demands attention from the off and we are riveted. Dame Madeleine Marzipan (Mama G) and French Frank (Tom Brace) follow, firing off gags at a terrific pace. Yes, it’s a Parisian setting but the local references keep the humour close to home (Stevenage, Ware and Hertford all get a good ribbing).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/mAMAg-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Mama G in Beauty and the Beast Hertford" class="wp-image-93529" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/mAMAg-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/mAMAg-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/mAMAg-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



And now, here’s Belle (Lucy Ireland) and her potty mother (Nerinne Skinner). A crowd-pleasing musical number lifts the theatre and the mood is simply this. Joyful. But wait. Things move up a gear as Benedict Bourbon (Michael Quinn) the arrogant suitor arrives and oh, he’s mesmerising and plays the part with wonderful swagger. At one point he pulls a sequin-studded microphone from his belt and he’s off, seducing Belle (and the audience) with his dashing dance moves, vocals and endless wit. How can Belle resist? Well, this is Beauty and the Beast (remember!), so Belle rejects Benedict and is whisked away to the chateau where Prince Pierre (Joshua Ford) hides under self-imposed lock and key. Cursed by Esmerelda and transformed into a beast, he must find true love before the final rose petal falls (…. you know the story).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/fRANK-1000x667.jpg" alt="Tom Brace in Beauty and the Beast Hertford" class="wp-image-93528" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/fRANK-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/fRANK-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/fRANK.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



There’s an intermission, which gives everyone time to top up drinks and snacks before Frank and Mama G return to the stage to entertain us once more. Spoiler alert – there’s brilliant magic, audience participation and a surprise that has the entire theatre screaming with laughter.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/benedict-1000x667.jpg" alt="Michael Quinn in beauty and the Beast hertford" class="wp-image-93527" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/benedict-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/benedict-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/benedict.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



And then – oh good! &#8211; Benedict is back, and we’re swooning as he flexes his muscles and leads his army of minions (a junior dance troupe) to the chateau in another high-energy number. Costume changes are swift and dazzling with Mama G’s wigs getting bigger and Esmerelda’s dresses more eye-popping. And before we know it we’ve arrived at dinner with Belle and the Beast. What voices! The Beast gives a brilliant performance – tormented and tender, but still singing and dancing wonderfully through a wolfish mask that is just the right end of terrifying. Belle hits the notes perfectly too but oh, as the last petal dramatically falls from the rafters, Benedict arrives and bam, the beast is down. Benedict thinks he has won the girl (swoon) but Belle’s heart belongs to the beast and their kiss sparks a brilliant swirl of lights and activity. Hurrah! All is well again. The Prince is back and (here comes the moral of the story) love has transformed him and set him free. Pah! Benedict gyrates off stage (call me, he mimes to someone in the front row).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Belleprince-1000x667.jpg" alt="Beauty and the beast Hertford" class="wp-image-93530" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Belleprince-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Belleprince-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Belleprince.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The wedding finale is a feel-good party. Children are up in the audience, dancing along to the Kpop anthem Golden and even the adults are singing too. This is panto at its very best. Warmth, entertainment and a good dose of festive magic make it a winning number. 



Beauty and the Beast, BEAM Theatre, The Wash, Hertford SG14 1PS. On now until Jan 4, 2026. Book <a href="https://beamhertford.co.uk/whats-on/Zr-beauty-and-the-beast-panto-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickets here</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more-try-these">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? TRY THESE:</h3>



<a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/arts-culture/my-cultural-kicks-beam-theatre-director-steve-sargeant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My cultural kicks: BEAM Theatre Director, Steve Sargeant</a> <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/arts-culture/5-of-the-best-books-to-get-stuck-into-over-christmas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 of the best books to get stuck into over Christmas</a> <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/film-and-tv-shows-released-in-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Films and TV shows we’re most hyped about for 2026</a>

REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast, BEAM Hertford

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