Beauty and the Beast - A Horny Love Story
Bertie dreams of leaving the provincial Scottish town of Lickmanochers and going on an adventure. So what happens when the adventure comes to him? Unexpectedly trapped in a castle, which desperately needs re-decoration, Bertie finds himself coming face to face with a beefy, brooding aristocratic beast. With time running out and the evil Cornelius on the loose, can love and lust break the curse?
He’s Behind You! productions has been building up a reputation for creating absolutely filthy adult pantomimes with their first production ‘Sleeping Beauty takes A Prick’ in 2023 and ‘Jack and the beanstalk- what a whopper!’ last year. Earlier this year they won the award for Achievement in Inclusive Practice at the UK Pantomime awards, proving themselves to be a staple for inclusive Christmas panto. This year they have once again returned to their home at Charing Cross theatre for their latest installment ‘Beauty and the Beast- a horny love story’.
Let’s start with a disclaimer, this is NOT a family panto by any means at all. Leave your young ones at home! Treat yourself to an adults only night out at one of the most outrageously funny pantos on stage, but don’t forget to come in with an open mind.
Is it somehow more inclusive than last year? Yes. Do we love to see it? Absolutely. The thought that goes into integrating this with the traditionally straight fairytale proceeds, from presenting the characters as wanting and being able to have true love to giving them more than a few happily ever afters. Not to mention how strong the queer-based comedy is with running gags about queer stereotypes.
Writers Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper have definitely upped their game since last year. Re-setting this French story in Scotland both feels absolutely plausible and works surprisingly well in enabling the story to feel more relatable to a UK audience. Additionally the in-jokes about rural villages and Scotland are particularly hilarious.
The choice to remove Gaston as a character may seem a bit jarring at first but they replace him with a villain (Cornelius) who is just as villainous, if not more so- he’s not just out to get the beast, he’s out to get everyone. This makes him more active in the story, allowing us to really root for the protagonists to succeed in their goals.
The combination of original songs and parody works really well in progressing the story, giving it almost a musical theatre feel at times. We particularly enjoy singing along to a parody of ‘Modern Major General’, which goes in tandem with the numerous operatic references in the show (yes Dame Flora is into opera). This being just one element of the traditional tropes of panto that are smoothly blended into this production alongside: call and response, villains and magical characters talking in verse, animal sidekicks, audience participation, the throwing of sweets into the audience and innuendo, which is taken to a whole other level. So this production, as a pantomime, is exceptionally strong.
Matthew Baldwin, much to our delight, returns to play the Dame. His performance is an absolute masterclass in this sense. He commands the stage with his comedic timing and sharp shooting one-liners, his sense of the presence of the audience means that he’s very good at keeping us on our toes and encouraging us to get actively involved with the show, and his characterisation of Dame Flora is ridiculous in the best way, presenting her as a proud and sexually free woman who is devoted to her son and continuously forgets that she has a daughter.
Chris Lane, who plays Cornelius, somehow manages to make an already camp show even more camp in his performance of the show’s villain. Additional credit to costume designer Robert Draper for being more creative with his designs and not dressing the villain up in dark colours or leather, making him even more visually deceptive.
Matt Kennedy has a strong singing voice and palpable energy that makes him perfect for the role of Bertie because it’s easy to see how he brings the light into the life of the Beast. Meanwhile Keanu Adolphus Johnson helps to ground the show in something more nuanced and genuine with his sensitive portrayal of the Beast who is scared of the outside world due to having been ostracised but also secretly craving connection.
To top it all off, set designer David Shields and lighting designer Matt Hockley have really gone all out with their aesthetic vision for the show. It’s as bright and colourful as you’d expect but it hides more than a few surprises.
This smutty show is out and proud and absolutely unapologetic. The innuendos come in thick and fast, leaving us crying with laughter within the first fifteen minutes, and we find ourselves fully invested in the story from the outset and engaged throughout.
Christmas comes early with this camp festive feast! Absolutely banging in every direction! He’s Behind You! Pantomimes really have set the standard for adult pantomimes and we can’t wait to see what they do next.
This show was reviewed on the 4th December at Charing Cross Theatre, London where it runs until the 11th January 2026. Tickets available here: Charing Cross Theatre
Review written by Megan O'Neill
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Photo credit: Steve Gregson
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