Performing for over 60 years

Unity players have been established for well over 60 years and each year produce a Christmas pantomime, a spring play, and a summer concert for their Patrons.

Review from Philip Horton on thisisbath.co.uk for our previous show Aladdin.

Aladdin, with a huge cast and more costume changes than in Bristol Primark on a Saturday afternoon – it must be Christmas.  Well, very nearly, just next week.

And what costumes. There was enough glitter to make Elton John look positively dull. 

And they were matched by a computer generated backdrop giving appropriate fantastical scenery to suit every scene and mood change, thundering sound effects plus plenty of lively tunes to keep the cast and audience singing along – no wonder the theatre was packed.

It's a super theatre too, hidden away at Brougham Hayes, with modern facilities and ample seating.  Other small theatres in Bath must be envious of this venue.

But back to the panto. There were the usual set pieces demanding, and getting, an enthusiastic response, with an equally energetic singing and dancing cast apparently loving every minute.

As often happens, the baddie gets the best part and responses, and here Philip Thorpe excelled as evil Abanazer.

The script writers must have opened their crackers early, or kept last year's worst examples, for the relentlessly, traditionally, bad jokes.  Abanazer on Widow Twankey: "More chins than in a Chinese telephone directory."

Doubtless there will be more pantomimes to come but surely few of the amateur ones will have so much input for scenery, costumes and choreography. 

It's all for charity too – in this case for Developing Health and Independence – so theatregoers will be supporting Unity Players and another good cause.