Reviews

“This show bounds along and by the end the young crowd – like Cinderella, have had a ball.”
The Guardian, Cinderella
To check out Ben’s Cinderella Script (Version 1) CLICK HERE or (Version 2) CLICK HERE

“Perfect, Proper Panto.”
The Times, Beauty & the Beast
To check out Ben’s Beauty & the Beast Script CLICK HERE

“Absolutely delightful panto, put together with wit and verve by Ben Crocker”
The Daily Telegraph, Dick Whittington & His Cat
To check out Ben’s Dick Whittington & His Cat Script CLICK HERE

“The show that still, I think, wins the prize as the sweetest in the land… It’s as if all the elements this bastardised genre requires to go with a swing are lined up and given a rigorous inspection to see what would best go where: there must be room for local children who’ve got the necessary theatrical vim and verve; music and song, too – but not so as the action drags; cross-dressing without gross vulgarity taking hold; jokes everyone can get; and of course surprises in generous measure.”
The Daily Telegraph, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
To check out Ben’s Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Script CLICK HERE

“A mixture of likable performances and new ideas make Cinderella energetic, inventive fun. This year’s pantomime is a triumphant production for a significant anniversary.”
The Stage, on Chipping Norton Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Production of Cinderella
To check out Ben’s Cinderella Script (Version 1) CLICK HERE or (Version 2) CLICK HERE

“This Beast is a real beauty… One of the most rejuvenatingly good-natured pantos anywhere in the country.”
The Daily Telegraph, Beauty & the Beast
To check out Ben’s Beauty & the Beast Script CLICK HERE

“All the ingredients for a jolly good panto romp are chucked into the mix… a rollicking good laugh from start to finish had the adults wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.”
The Stage, Sleeping Beauty
To check out Ben’s Sleeping Beauty Script CLICK HERE

“This is a show to be enjoyed by all ages, with enough hearty laughs to lighten anyone’s winter evenings.”
Express and Echo, Aladdin – Relevant link(s) – Aladdin Script
To check out Ben’s Aladdin Script CLICK HERE

“This re-telling of the classic children’s favourite is fresh enough to keep even the grandparents interested, and they have been familiar with the story for longer than they care to remember. The grandfather next to us enjoyed the jokes for the children and the guffaws to be had for the adult audience present and the classic sea-side slapstick which makes this peculiar British phenomenon such a kick.”
Gloucestshire Echo, Jack and the Beanstalk
To check out Ben’s Jack and the Beanstalk Script CLICK HERE

“Every year at this time, Theatre Arts Guild pulls out all the stops with its family pantomime. The shows are consistently delightful, filled with music, comedy and with plenty of opportunity for audience participation. This year’s offering, Camelot the Panto, may well be my favourite of the many pantos I’ve seen at TAG… The pace is perfect and the actors ham it up at just the perfect level. Children will love this show, but it’s also the kind of show that brings out the “kid” in adults. And isn’t that just what we’re searching for at Christmas time?”
The Coast, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Camelot the Panto
To check out Ben’s Camelot the Panto Script CLICK HERE

“What really sets this pantomime apart is the quality of Ben Crocker’s script… Make no mistake, any theatre in the land would be proud to stage this top quality show.”
Oxford Times, Beauty & the Beast
To check out Ben’s Beauty & the Beast Script CLICK HERE

“Aladdin’s strength is that it whizzes along at a brisk pace, tells a traditional story with just enough music and slapstick, but doesn’t overdo the knowing winks to the audience… it’s hard to see how the evening could have been improved – the cast seem to have as much fun as the audience, with children really getting into the spirit of it – dancing in the aisles…”
This is Gloucestershire, Aladdin
To check out Ben’s Aladdin Script CLICK HERE

“A glance around at the children – their faces truly shining, eyes wide and mouths open – illustrates the delight that pantomime still provides.”
The Times, Dick Whittington & His Cat
To check out Ben’s Dick Whittington & His Cat Script CLICK HERE

“Beauty and the Beast has something for everyone – it is touching, scary, funny, engaging and an awful lot of fun.”
Banbury Guardian, Beauty & the Beast
To check out Ben’s Beauty & the Beast Script CLICK HERE

“This new version of Jack and the Beanstalk by Ben Crocker, whilst keeping the traditional story, has a good modern feel to it, with good principal parts and plenty of Chorus work. All the parts appear throughout and there is a lot of one-line dialogue, which should keep it moving at a great pace… There is excellent comedy for all parts, and they are all of more or less the same size, which makes Jack and the Beanstalk an excellent choice.”
AS Magazine, Jack and the Beanstalk
To check out Ben’s Jack and the Beanstalk Script CLICK HERE

“This is a pantomime which will be enjoyed by cast and audience alike and one that I would recommend, both as a Dame and as a Director.”
Richard Bond, AS Magazine, Sleeping Beauty
To check out Ben’s Sleeping Beauty Script CLICK HERE

“Wittily written by Ben Crocker… What an absolute joy it was – a good wholesome traditional show that was simply great fun for all the family.”
British Theatre Guide, Beauty & the Beast
To check out Ben’s Beauty & the Beast Script CLICK HERE

“Lovelier by far is this year’s panto at the delightful Chipping Norton Theatre, nearest playhouse to the PM’s rural retreat and constituency home. Ben Crocker’s script for Cinderella (four stars), as directed by John Terry (no, not that one), isn’t averse to double entendres, and the two ugly sisters, wielding wee-spraying toy dogs (this year’s must-have panto accessory), could hardly look more butch in drag.

Yet there’s a warmth about this production, exemplified by the decision to relocate the story to Venice and introduce specially composed music, ranging from rock to opera pastiche, that makes it at once imaginatively rich and suitable for, well, children. And that’s the point, isn’t it? Or am I missing something?”
The Daily Telegraph, contrasting Robinson Crusoe and the Carribean Pirates at Birmingham Hippodrome, with Ben’s Cinderella at The Theatre, Chipping Norton
To check out Ben’s Cinderella Script (Version 1) CLICK HERE or (Version 2) CLICK HERE

“Opening Night saw a packed house witness a ripped up, revamped panto stalwart: this production is a riot of colourful costumes, brilliant banter and a stage load of slapstick.”
Express and Echo, Dick Whittington & His Cat
To check out Ben’s Dick Whittington & His Cat Script CLICK HERE

“Following the story of Ali Baba and his quest to free his beloved Safiya, the tale unfolds with comic songs and a hilarious script, featuring plenty of opportunities to boo and hiss… A must-see this Christmas.”
Cotswold Journal, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
To check out Ben’s Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Script CLICK HERE

“Discover a topsy turvy world where traditional pantomime has been lovingly re-invented by the wittiest and most inventive writer working in pantomime today.”
*AS Magazine on Ben’s collection of pantomime scripts
To check out Ben’s Panto Scripts CLICK HERE

“Everyone associates pantos with children, but while Jack and the Beanstalk – this year’s seasonal offering at The Roses in Tewkesbury – had eager youngsters dancing with delight at the front of the auditorium, I can’t believe there were many adults in the audience who didn’t thoroughly enjoy it too. Writer and director Ben Crocker has produced a very well scripted and highly amusing show.”
Evesham Journal, Jack and the Beanstalk
To check out Ben’s Jack and the Beanstalk Script CLICK HERE

"The wittiest and most original writer working in pantomime today."
AS Magazine

To check out Ben's range of Panto Scripts CLICK HERE.