Disney's Aladdin continues UK tour after taking Glasgow audiences to A Whole New World

As an avid, passionate childhood fan of Disney’s 1992 Oscar-winning animated classic Aladdin, with an undoubted soft-spot for the Will Smith-led updated-retelling, there was definite trepidation prior to the curtain-raise and re-introduction to Aladdin and his Agrabah-inspired escapades, at the Theatre Royale in Glasgow.

With the Glasgow leg completed of the Aladdin UK and Ireland tour, and Liverpool's Empire next to experience the wonder, GlasgowWorld spent a night with Aladdin and Jasmine in colourful Agrabah.

How avid a fan? From the ages of about 7 to 11, along with my younger sister, I would watch the film on VHS, every Saturday morning, and even performed as the Genie in a Primary School stage play.

And, Aladdin on the ‘Big Stage’...heartwarmingly charming, with little to none of the magic lost in the Disney theatrical adaptation.

If anything, the stage performance has evolved the original narrative, out goes Abu the Disney-mandated animal-sidekick, as well as anthropomorphic ‘rug'ged hero Magic Carpet, replaced with three cheeky, but charming friends to assist Aladdin in his shenanigans..

One can only imagine the nightmare-induced animal-rights chaos, involved in attempting to train a live-monkey to play the part of Abu in live theatre.

The touring stage play has been updated to include UK-centric references and jokes, helping it to remain relevant to modern audiences.

The sets are lavish, choreography mesmerising, and the colours bright and vibrant, it’s a true spectacle. Agrabah has never looked more entertaining, (and certainly less ruthless and limb-threatening than in the 1992 classic.)

Aladdin, played by Gavin Adams, shines and soars with a singing voice that pays homage to the animation, while having enough charm to make the part his own.

The Cave of Wonder and introduction to the Magic Lamp is an impressive visual of gold, treasure and mystique.

However, the stage and auditorium truly comes alive during the introduction of the Genie, played by Damien Winchester, in a tour-de-force performance.

Showstoppers Friend Like Me and Prince Ali and the energy created on stage by the cast, really has to be seen to be believed.

A talented and hardworking cast of around 20 people create a vast depth of hundreds of characters and choreography.

A Whole New World remains as powerful a ballad as any created in Disney’s history, and the crowd left in awe during the levitating magic carpet ride.

Kids transported deep into their imagination, believing a carpet can fly, and adults looking at each, questioning how on Earth they pulled such an incredible visual off on stage.

With some new songs, non-stop energy, humour, character arcs and a more significantly developed role for Jasmine played by Desmonda Catabel, instead of the previous ‘damsel-in-distress’ trope. Aladdin provides an evening of joy and positive social reinforcement that’s perfect for this festive period or even any time of year.

Jafar (Adam Strong) and henchman Iago (Angelo Paragoso), are suitably evil, and as a result duly welcomed on stage with boos, clearly revelling in the notoriety.

And much like the 1992 original, the sight of the Genie, granted freedom, wearing holiday attire, will never fail to plaster a smile firmly on the faces of a toe-tapping audience.

You'll believe a carpet can fly, and you'll be surprised at how many of the iconic tracks you know almost word-for-word.