Available online
The National Theatre’s pantomime paean to London feels a little too bright in the current climate, but its naughtier denizens – including a goth Queen Rat – shine
Christmas might be cancelled, but they can’t take away our pantomimes. Or not the National Theatre’s at least, which is offering up its second ever panto online – free of charge even though it has only just launched its paid-for streaming service.
It is a generous, feelgood gesture, perfectly suited to this can-do story about a man and his street-smart cat. An updated revival of Jude Christian and Cariad Lloyd’s song-filled show, which premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith in 2018, it takes some sideways glances at the pandemic and fires the odd broadside, but does not get too bogged down by the depressing realities.