WhatsOnStage★★★★ "This is, perhaps, the theatregoers pantomime, a little more sophisticated, genuinely sincere and bursting with musical talent. Long-time abstainers of the genre will be hard-pressed to keep from beaming"Evening Standard★★★★ "Sir Ian McKellen makes a triumphant return to pantomime damehood in this gleeful, willfully slapdash affair."Broadway World★★★★★ "The classic Panto slapstick was some of the best Ive seen. Its almost impossible to convey the whimsy, heart, humour and skill that underpins this production. A total hoot from start to finish"The Daily Mail★★★★ "There was joy and confusion as adults heaved with laughter and a pre-schooler behind me asked his mother: Is this panto? Yes, child. Behold!."Time Out★★★★ " It’s a generously slapstick performance, filled with a genuine sense of love for the genre. McKellen is the beating heart of this warmly inclusive and winningly open-handed panto."The Stage★★★★★ "A solid gold hit."Metro★★★★★ The genius of Cal McCrystal’s joyous production is the paring of McKellen’s revolting dame with the immensely likeable comedian John Bishop as her husband..The Times★★★★★ "Cal McCrystal, the celebrated comedy-theatre director, has steered a gifted cast of circus and cabaret artists into performance territory that is zany and seductive. It’s like Blazing Saddles on steroids and with sex on the brain. No wonder the show is headed to Las Vegas next month."The Telegraph★★★★★ The whole shiny shebang, directed by Cal McCrystal, is delivered with such warm-hearted zest, it’s hard to imagine anyone failing to benefit from taking gander. If this is McKellen’s Swanson, what a happy and glorious way to go.PRESSMother Goose by Jonathan Harvey. Starring Ian McKellen and John Bishop. Musical Director James Keay. Choreography Lizzi Gee. Design by Liz Ashcroft. Puppets by Chris Barlow. With Anna-cane Casey, Simbi Akande, Sharon Ballard, Mairi Barclay, Adam Brown, Gabriel Fleary, Becca Francis, Shailan Gohil, Richard Leeming, Oscar Conlon Morrey, Karen Mavundukure, Richard Leeming, Genevieve Nicole and Laura Tyrer.