Curve Theatre extend the panto season by bringing their new Roald Dahl adaptation of George’s Marvellous Medicine to The West Yorkshire Playhouse where Leo Owen caught the show

Very much a play breaking the fourth wall, George’s Marvellous Medicine encourages the power of imagination with George enthusiastically greeting the audience, playing the role of panto dame drumming up audience support and participation.

It’s half term and George (Preston Nyman) lives on a farm far away from the village kids. Relishing the chance to escape reality by delving into books, deep into his imagination, George’s blissful plan is shattered when a note arrives from his ailing Grandma, imminently due to arrive. Cue the rather marvellous plan George concocts.

Grandma (Lisa Howard), dressed like Grease’s Rizzo and arriving red-lit to her own sinister theme tune, smoothly reverses on a shiny mobility scooter to take over George’s bedroom. Classic Dahl. She’s a shrew caricature, ungratefully bellowing orders and pressing a deafening buzzer every time she craves more attention.

Live musicians don lab coats, becoming part of George’s imaginary band of helpers as he perfects a formula for his titular medicine accompanied by flashing coloured lights and cries of excitable onlookers. It’s here that David Wood’s adaptation truly pans out to be the pantomime of earlier promises with raps and chants of “Fizzle, swizzle, shout hooray!”, crescendoing to cries of “Oh yes there is!” It’s little wonder this adaptation was first conceived and performed in Christmas 2017.

Morgan Large’s set, clearly inspired by Quentin Blake’s famous illustrations, is comprised of an old rusted wind turbine, portaloo, sheeted trailer, animal cages and TV screens, seemingly balanced precariously on wonky shelves. Props also include a comical remote-controlled hen on wheelies.

Perfectly-pitched for little ones in length (totalling 90 minutes), energy and content, this lively production playfully mocks itself by wrapping up with a “Goodbye” song, acting as a disclaimer for little ones, warning against the dangers of trialling home mixing. The perfect medicine for a blustery winter night.