Last year I was invited to review my first ever pantomime at The Brindley in association with New Pantomime Productions and I wrote in my review “personally I cannot wait to return in 2025 to see if, and how this show can be beaten”. Well, I am thrilled to report that this year’s production did indeed beat last years. This is traditional pantomime at its very best.
Making her professional debut and leading the cast was the superb Emma Laverty as Cinderella. Laverty looks so at home on stage you would believe she has been treading the panto boards for years, with a stunning crystal clear voice and natural interactions with all she was on stage with I predict big things for this young lady.
Mikey Rowan playing Cinderella’s love interest Prince Charming commanded the stage whenever he was on it, supported well by his servant Ashley Johnson as Dandini. Johnson also once again this year created the beautiful choreography throughout the show delivered by principles Tyler Ousley and Adam Michael Bennett and the blue team of young dancers Kaiyah Gerrish, Amy White, Faith Kearns, Emily Gresty, Ariana Gerrish, Jennifer Rose, Hallie Rathbone, Sophie Caplan and Seline Davies.
Panto veteran Nicki French brought a warmth to the role of Fairy Godmother as she granted Cinderella’s wish to go to the ball.
Standing in the way of Cinderella’s road to happiness were a trio of villains, Eleanor Lakin as The Baroness and her two daughters, the Ugly Sisters, Simon Grant and Kiki Inferno. All three embodied the perfect pantomime villains with Lakin bringing glamour to her role whilst Grant and Kiki Inferno brought the opposite. Kiki Inferno had the most outrageous costumes of the night each one surpassing the last.
Returning again to The Brindley, Matt Dallen played Buttons and had me exhausted just watching his seemingly unlimited energy throughout the night. His immediate rapport with the audience was evident (with all new jokes this year – he says) and judging by the ovation he received at the end of the show, a firm audience favourite.
I also wrote last year “The 12 days of Christmas routine was THE best version I have seen and one of my theatrical highlights of the year”, well this year they topped it, and some, total and utter chaos from the first day to the last producing tears of laughter from many in the audience, including myself – a masterpiece.
One of my overriding memories from last year’s show was the lighting and effects, which this year stepped up a level. I know the Brindley team work hard to create these effects and once again excelled with the final scene in act 1 building up to Cinderella’s transformation and subsequent reveal of her transportation to the ball being the highlight.
I have missed one name out of this review so far, and that is of the smallest member of the company and blue team member Hudson Kelly. For one so young, I cannot begin to understand where he gets his confidence from and deserves a special mention as when on stage you could not take your eyes off him and was faultless in his execution of the choreography.
Cinderella plays at The Brindley until 11th January 2025. For dates and ticket availability visit https://www.quaytickets.com/thebrindley/
Once again, The Brindley and New Pantomime Productions have delivered a stunning traditional pantomime that rivals any other in the land.
Reviewer: Paul Downham
Reviewed: 13th December 2025
North West End UK Rating: