We took the teenagers to the press night of York Theatre Royal Panto Sleeping Beauty, fully expecting the usual eye-rolling, phone-checking and dramatic sighing that often comes whenever we suggest “a nice family outing.” But to my genuine surprise—and their great reluctance to admit it—they were hooked from about five minutes in.
Yes, Sleeping Beauty is a pantomime, but this one is sharp, fast, and packed with enough clever humour that even the teens laughed out loud. There are plenty of classic panto moments, but with enough modern references (6-7 anyone?), cheeky asides and well-timed sarcasm to keep older kids engaged.
Nurse Nelly played by Robin Simpson was quick-witted, brilliantly chaotic, and totally unbothered by roasting the audience or the other cast members. The teens loved the unscripted moments, especially when something went slightly (sometimes suspiciously!) off-piste.
Nelly’s sidekick, Jangles (played by Tommy Carmichael) was another favourite—high-energy without being annoying, and with the kind of physical comedy that’s just as funny for older kids as little ones.
Princess Aurora and the romantic interest were charming, but more importantly, they weren’t overly syrupy, which earned them a thumbs-up from the teens.
The soundtrack definitely helped—peppered with current-ish tunes, a few throwbacks parents will appreciate, and big ensemble numbers that fill the space. The teenagers particularly liked that the songs weren’t too panto-cheesy (just the right amount of cheese).
The production value this year is fantastic. There were several effects that genuinely impressed, and we loved the fire performer.
If you want a family activity that genuinely bridges that tricky teenage gap—fun for adults, not too kiddy for older teens—Sleeping Beauty at York Theatre Royal absolutely delivers. It’s bright, funny, modern, and packed with energy.
A brilliant night out for families with older kids, and one we’d happily recommend to anyone navigating the teenage “too cool for fun” years.
We were invited to attend the press night and as always, all opinions expressed are my own.
