Rapunzel
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Dec 2017
By Trish Cooke and Robert Hyman
Directed by Pooja Ghai
Lighting Design by Matt Daw
Designed by Will
Great British Pantomime Awards 2018 nomination for Best Staging and Set
...this is a pantomime bursting with love, complemented by an uplifting score from Hyman, and a rich, heavily textured design from William Fricker. Verdict: Innovative adaptation featuring an uplifting score, entertaining performances and utterly enchanting design. (5 stars)
Paul Vale. The Stage. December 2017
William Fricker's designs are beguilingly beautiful, with wonderfully clashing African patterns on all the costumes and Witch Maddy's cluttered, chemistry set-style workshop one of the several simple but effective sets. This Rapunzel does look amazing.
Daisy Bowie-Sell. Whatsonstage.com December 2017
Apart from exciting and entertaining audience participation, immersion into the show is triggered by the costume and set design (William Fricker)....the show convinces with animating participation, stunning design...
Lara Domke. Ayoungertheatre.com December 2017
Designer William Fricker keeps settings simple but very effective. Rapunzel’s room disappears into the flies as the scene zooms down to ground level...and an audience engendered transformation scene makes a simple effect a very lovely climax.
Howard Loxton. Britishtheatreguide.info December 2017
The production values here are admirably high, with designer William Fricker offering a range of impressive structures...
Theo Bosanquet. Timeout.com December 2017