I did not have very high expectations for the Panto Society’s most recent performance of Spiderman; I went into it thinking that it would be amateur and cheap, good enough for a few laughs and nothing more. It’s forgettable at best. So, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I loved it. Don’t get me wrong, it was still amateur and cheap; I don’t think anybody could expect more from a student-led society. However, it worked in their favour to create a witty and relaxed atmosphere where one could effortlessly submerge into the satire of it all. The way they managed to sway me from my original bias was through the actor’s interactions with the audience. 

Although a key aspect of pantomimes is audience interaction, in my experience, this can often turn out patronising, repetitive and annoying. This is often the case for more popular pantomimes targeted towards families and performed on bigger stages. Yet, it was the best part of Spiderman: The Pantomime! Thanks to the respectable size of the UEA Drama Studio, along with great improvisation from the cast in response to audience reactions, it certainly felt as though the audience became a secondary character, even going as far as to interrupt the queer romantic story between Peter and Harry to include a third lover, none other than an audience member. 

While the actors sold the audience onto the story’s wild antics, it is clear to anyone paying attention that the author and producer of the pantomime know their audience well. With an age restriction of ‘adults only’ due to inappropriate language, sexual innuendos, violence and an open bar, they had the freedom (and the mind) to address the context of a majority UEA student audience. Spiderman: The Pantomime! was run by students for students. Criticising capitalism, inhumane working conditions, and our very own student union through flippant banter, along with fantastic renditions of Holding Out for a Hero, SOS, Born This Way, and I Want It That Way, the young adult audience was feverishly intoxicated with entertainment; loudly (and perhaps drunkenly) taking every opportunity to respond to the actors and participate in the unfolding story. 

Although I did pick up on stumblings during lines and choreography, they were quickly washed away from the mind as the story continued. However, I did feel at times that the primary storyline, following Peter and Harry as they find themselves on opposite sides of the battle, was largely overshadowed by the entertaining side stories. The audience lived for Aunt May’s flirtatious attempts on an audience member, the worker’s strike, a missing Spider Gwen, and Venom’s regrets over a past relationship. The play never stalled but felt fresh and experimental at every turn. I want to end this review by congratulating the actors for their versatile performances in the face of a chaotic, excited and, yes, drunk audience. The play was unpolished, rusty and crude – making it all the more enjoyable. If you managed to experience the show for yourself, consider yourself lucky because this pantomime was by far the best I’ve ever been to. If not, be on the lookout for their next performance, if it is anything like Spiderman: The Pantomime! it’ll be a good one. You can also expect the show to be posted at UEA Pantomime Society on YouTube.