‘Ian McKellen is the mother of all Twankeys.  A wicked, comic pleasure’  -- Evening Standard

‘No ordinary festive spectacle. A sophisticated panto, lovingly restored by a theatrical aristocracy who treasure the form as a staple of British theatre’ -- Sunday Times

Feature Articles

The Telegraph

Evening Standard

Full Cast
in Alphabetical Order

Marina Abdeen
Madelena Alberto
Roger Allam
Gary Amers
Frances Barber
Alistair David
Steve Fortune
Kate Gillespie
Paul Grunert
Emma Harris
Victoria Hinde
Tee Jaye
Neil McDermott
Ian McKellen
Stuart Neal
Zak Nemorin
Daniel Redmond
Leah Sheldrick
Andrew Spillett
Matthew Wolfenden

Photos by
Manuel Harlan

Aladdin Video

ALADDIN
The Old Vic

7 December 2005 -
22 January 2006

Program

Roger Allam
Frances Barber
Ian McKellen
Kate Gillespie
Neil McDermott
Andrew Spillett
Matthew Wolfenden
in
Aladdin

Ian McKellen is Widow Twankey

Following a sell-out success last Christmas, the classic family panto returns to The Old Vic, with Ian McKellen repeating his dazzling performance as Widow Twankey, with Sean Mathias directing.

Aladdin is one of the most famous tales from the celebrated collection of stories The Thousand and One Nights. The story of Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp was the source for the first stage version at Covent Garden in 1788. The famous clown Grimaldi played in it in 1813, and in 1861 ‘Widow Twankey’ made her first appearance as a character. Since then Aladdin has been a permanent feature of the English pantomime scene.

New version by Bille Brown
Original Score by Gareth Valentine
Directed by Sean Mathias
Design by John Napier
Choreographer - Wayne McGregor
Costumes - Mark Bouman
Lighting - David Hersey
Sound - Fergus O'Hare
Orchestrations - Chris Walker
Musical Director - Kevin Amos

"I Believe in You"
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Lee Hall

Roger Allam is Abbanazar

The Old Vic
London

“Panto has everything theatrical – song, dance, verse, slapstick, soliloquy, audience participation, spectacle, crossdressing and a good plot, strong on morality and romance – what more could you want from a family outing?” -- Ian McKellen

Photos and information about the original engagement
17 December 2004 - 23 January 2005