Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

The festive family shows at Stratford East have been happening for 130 years! It opened in 1884. Nine times performed, Cinderella returns to the stage but with many a twist and twirl. This year’s production was a fitting tribute to Jo Melville, known popularly for her role in Eastenders but a mentor for so many in the community with her infectious enthusiasm for the Arts. For the third year in a row, the Stratford East is recording and taking theatre into hospitals to the community who could use a laugh.

The play sets Cinderella near the pyramids! With exceptional puppetry skills, Kathryn Bond has you hooked with her all-knowing Sphinx cat. All the talented performers brought new avatars of familiar old characters to life. Gigi Zahir served Cleopatra with Zesty and feisty razzmatazz. Paired with Alex Wadham’s slapstick comedy and Risqué double entendre, which I doubt was going above the head of the children, it was highly entertaining. Gracie McGonigal as Cindrella sounds like an angel and moves gracefully with the most practical shoes I have ever seen a Cindrella wear!

Let’s make a listicle on what makes Cindrella a memorable watch.

• Talented performers who bring these new avatars of the characters to life to many guffaws
• Absorbing live musical band of bass, drums, keyboard, MD cover the collaboration of Leo Butler and Robert Hyman on music and lyrics.
• Magnificent and clever sets
• Ingenuous character development and twists and plots
• Ticks all well-known conventions surround a traditional pantomime, from playing with sticky substances to audience participation and slapstick humour.

What I hope we could reflect on for next year

• Reflect on why we associate cleaning with being smelly and dirty. Especially having lived through the pandemic. What could we do to clean our lenses of privilege? While talking about those who are the backbone of our community?
• Why do queer characters have to be villains? Yes, performance conventions of pantomime perhaps dictated this, but it would be so exciting to change that up!
• Why does children’s theatre have to have simplistic premises, giving us false hope that our voice is all we need, the light is in us, and we just have to choose our future and be brave to follow our dreams? No, an extensive list of ideas cannot change the world, and I wish to see theatre that reflects my reality.

The pantomime is not only a year-end celebration reflecting British conventions and inspiring talent. This is one show that will leave you with a big grin, feeling warm with festive spirits while cheering the artists who take us on a roller coaster of two hours and grateful for theatre that is accessible to so many.

Playing until 7th January 2023, https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/

Reviewer: Anisha Pucadyil

Reviewed: 26th November 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★