The Wyvern Theatre served up another generous helping of festive delight with its 2025 pantomime Sleeping Beauty, blending warmth, mischief and family-friendly fun in the way Swindon audiences have come to cherish each Christmas.
Right from the start, it has that classic Wyvern feel — cheesy in the best way, full of laughs and shining with enough festive fun to make it clear that Christmas in Swindon has started.
Abbie Budden is a delightful Sleeping Beauty, sweet and likeable, with a confidence that makes you root for her from the start. She sings beautifully and has a natural charm on stage. Jenny Ryan, as Carabosse, is pure mischief, loving every moment of being the wicked fairy. She struts, schemes and causes chaos, earning plenty of boos from both children and grown-ups.
The jokes keep coming, the slapstick is full-on, and the kids have plenty of chances to shout themselves silly — everything you want from a Wyvern Christmas panto. The songs are lively, the dancing full of energy, and the sets and costumes sparkle with festive colour. It’s predictable in all the right ways, but still fun and exciting enough to keep the theatre buzzing from start to finish.
By the time the cast comes together for the final singalong, the whole theatre is full of festive cheer.
Sleeping Beauty doesn’t just tick the boxes — it celebrates them with warmth, humour and heart. It is exactly the sort of panto audiences know they will get at the Wyvern, and it delivers it superbly. Cheesy? Absolutely. Familiar? Completely. Brilliant? Without question.
Christmas starts here.
