Last night, I headed into Manchester to be treated to a Disney extravaganza right here in the UK for Disney’s Aladdin at the Palace Theatre. Having just returned home from Orlando, I will be honest: the holiday blues have well and truly set in. Not being at Disney can do that to a person. And this spectacular feast of colour and joy was exactly what I needed.
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Aladdin Uk Tour Review 2024, Palace Theatre Manchester About Aladdin
Aladdin is a much-loved tale, released in UK Cinemas in 1992, known for its memorable soundtrack, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Iconic songs include “A Whole New World,” “Friend Like Me,” and “Prince Ali.”
The movie was a huge success, praised for its animation, music, and Robin Williams’ performance as the Genie. It won two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “A Whole New World.”
The ” Aladdin ” stage adaptation debuted in Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre in 2011 before opening on Broadway in 2014. It retains much of the charm of the animated film while adding new songs and characters to enhance the theatrical experience.
The story is set in the fictional Arabian city of Agrabah. It follows a young, kind-hearted but poor “diamond in the rough” named Aladdin. He finds a magical lamp containing a genie who grants him three wishes. Aladdin uses these wishes to try to win Princess Jasmine’s favour as a suitable husband while thwarting Jafar’s evil plans to take the wealth of the Kingdom.
My Review of Aladdin
Words can’t quite do Aladdin justice; the stage, costumes, and setting are more than spectacular. For someone who sees the world in bright colours, Aladdin is a veritable feast of the senses. The cave scene felt like a movie set; I can’t even comprehend the genius brain that enabled that to be moved so quickly.
The fact that Gavin Adams is playing Aladdin as his professional debut is mind-blowing. He plays the perfect Aladdin as if he has been on the stage forever. Yeukayi Ushe was born to be the Genie; he commanded the whole theatre from the second he stepped onto the stage; he had a presence I have only seen a few times in my lifelong love affair with theatre. I didn’t want a “Friend Like Me” to end, it was magical; it was Disney, and no one else does it like Disney.
The cast and score were spectacular; Desmonda Cathabel played Princess Jasmine perfectly, with a modern-day sass that made her aspirational and not dated. Whilst Adam Strong and Angelo Paragoso brought a light-hearted element and provided laughs with their Jafar and Iago. Every member of the production shone, it was perfection and joy in a Disney bubble.
Would I recommend Aladdin? If I could go every night, I would. It’s an instant shot of joy and happiness. I can only imagine how this looks through the eyes of a child. My goddaughters, who accompanied me, said it was the best show ever.
Where Can You See Aladdin
Aladdin is playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until 7th July 2024 with tickets from £20 plus a booking fee and then on at….
- Bristol Hippodrome, Wed 10 Jul – Sun 11 Aug 2024
- Theatre Royal Glasgow, Wed 6 Nov – Sat 30 Nov 2024
- Liverpool Empire, Wed 11 Dec 2024 – Sun 5 Jan 2025
Please note I was gifted these tickets in return for a review, and you can argue with a couple of hours of pure joy, heading to the Palace Theatre, see where to Park.
