Cinderella Archives - North West End UK

21Dec

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Cinderella – Kings Head Theatre

I had the luxury of seeing Cinderella in Pantomime at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington. They have 2 varieties of this performance with a family showing and an adults only showing. I had the pleasure of seeing the adults only showing with different guest performances throughout their running. A standout feature of this show is the inclusion of voiceovers by none other than Dame Judi Dench and Miriam Margolyes. Their iconic voices add an extra touch of magic and prestige to an already delightful production. True to pantomime tradition, the show is packed with audience participation, cheesy jokes, and a script that keeps the laughter rolling from start to finish. As an adults-only performance, it adds an extra layer of risqué humour and cheeky innuendos, making it an unforgettable ex...

18Dec

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Opera House

From the moment the curtain rose on the Opera House stage there was magic in the room and everyone was transported into a world of laughter and light. It had fun, frolics, wit and so much warmth that they probably could have turned the heating off in the theatre. This was a panto with a distinctly northern edge. It was laid-back and friendly, with enough jokes to keep the kids amused but also plenty of gags for the adults that would easily sail over younger heads. Topical jokes were thrown in and there were a few ad-libs when things on stage didn’t go as planned. This show was early on in the run, but you could feel that the cast was having a great time. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and there was little jeopardy or drama on stage. This panto was not particularly concerned w...

11Dec

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Blackpool Grand

I spent my afternoon at The Grand theatre Blackpool, at the matinee of this year’s Christmas Pantomime Cinderella. As usual, a star studded lineup including Hayley Tamaddon as the fairy godmother. Britain’s Got Talent’s local Steve Royle as a lovable Buttons who certainly earned his money, in my opinion the funniest part of the show. It had all of the traditional pantomime aspects that one would expect, the audience participation, the good vs evil, the happy ending, even the song sheet at the end. Local talent, a very pretty Kitty Harris in the title role, direct from her recent stint as standby for the leading role in Burlesque the Musical UK Tour. A genuinely funny script, very well put together, colourful creative scenery, and a strong team. Direction by Kylie Bu...

9Dec

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Gladstone Theatre

It’s that time of year again… oh yes, it is! And Dreamworld Entertainment returned for the nineth year with a fabulous Cinderella, to a full house of laughter and appreciation. Everyone loves a panto with its upbeat songs, glittery costumes, corny jokes and audience participation and this has it all in abundance. Director Laura Newnes and Choreographer Jamie-Leigh Christian, also producers, have assembled a tight professional cast and slick technical team to give us the wow factor and a jolly good entertainment. We all know the story, but writer Fortina Stone gives us a little bit extra with an amusing dynamic between the Prince and Dandini (who frankly are usually a bit wet) as well as all the usual slapstick and “it’s behind you” we come to expect. Some excellent si...

27Nov

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Cinderella – Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Yes, Sir, you can boo me - oh no, you can’t and all that jazz … Cinderella at the Festival Theatre is a feast for the eyes and a laugh-a-minute musical extravaganza. Featuring wicked stepmother, Grant Stott, endearing Fairy May (Allan Stewart), Jordan Young as a brilliant Buttons, Clare Gray and Gail Watson as Vindicta and Manipulata Fortuna, Amber Sylvia Edwards as Cinderella, Will Callan and his beautiful voice as Prince Charming and Iain Stuart Robertson as Baron Hardup, this line-up is a sure-fire hit. What a team! They delivered a fantastic evening’s distraction for the people of Edinburgh and beyond. The audience participation was wonderfully entertaining in the safe hands of Allan Stewart and the surprise elements were magical. The writing was a collaborative affair. It wa...

23Dec

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Cinderella – Edinburgh People’s Theatre

It’s that time of the year again and Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s panto this season is Cinderella. It’s the classic story, but with a few extra characters so that as many company members as possible can get their moment in the spotlight. The show opens with a reminder that we can boo, cheer, and shout out because this is a pantomime. This helps the audience to overcome any initial shyness and participate right from the start. Little reminders of theatre etiquette, done humorously, are a great way of getting the audience on side. Cinderella’s stepsisters, Mattie and Hattie, played by Mandy Black and Gemma Dutton, are a lot of fun in their garish costumes and wigs. The shameless man-chasers enter through the auditorium, all the better to trade insults across, and with...

18Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cinderella – Hull New Theatre

I don’t know what panto favourite, Neil Hurst, had eaten before taking to the Hull New Theatre stage on Sunday evening, but whatever it was had really oiled his make-‘em-laugh muscles - he was in top comedic form. As Buttons, in the age-old favourite, Cinderella, Hurst was on stage for most of the evening, delighting what looked like a sell-out theatre, from curtain up. And what a curtain! Featuring just one word - the panto’s title - dripping in glitter, bedazzling and making us impatient for what was to come, as did the images swirling around the walls and ceiling. The plot of this fairytale needs no explanation, so I’ll keep it short - poor girl, Cinderella or “Cinders” (Rebekah Lowings), mistreated by her two Ugly Sisters, Hernia (Peter Peverley) and Verruca (Jack Land Noble),...

18Dec

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Buxton Opera House

Buxton Opera House's annual pantomime is always a highlight in the festive calendar and this year’s production of Cinderella might be the very best one yet! Directed by Paul Kerryson and produced by Sarah Kell, this year’s pantomime is an enchanting spectacle that has all the ingredients of the perfect panto! The star-studded cast, featuring the hilarious James Holmes as Tess (returning due to phenomenal demand), larger than life David Dale as Claudia, the talented Georgia Gallagher as Cinderella, the charming Ross Clifton as Prince, Charlotte Hannah Jones delivering powerhouse vocals as the fairy godmother, and the loveable Aidan Bailey as Buttons, all delivering a performance that was nothing short of magical, backed by an incredible ensemble of dancers, Buns the Rabbit played by F...

16Dec

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Cinderella – Contact Theatre

Panto season is well and truly upon us, with this unique retelling of Cinderella just one of many pantomime offerings to get Manchester audiences feeling festive this year. Featuring a treasure trove of talented performers, this version of Cinderella is the story we all know and love - disenfranchised girl bullied by her relentless stepsisters, until she meets her Prince Charming at the ball - but with some comedic twists, in true pantomime style. Director Sean Canning said he hopes the audience “will cheer, boo and clap along” - and that, they did. The show had everything you could want from a classic pantomime: drag queens, tongue-in-cheek humour, theatrical villains and fabulous song and dance numbers. Photo: Shay Rowan The script was a little lost in parts, and some of the ...

14Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Cinderella – Bradford Alhambra

Taking your seat in this historic theatre you can’t help reflecting that for the local mill workers who made this city rich a festive trip to the panto must have been a real treat, and this old school spectacular with a modern sensibility proved to be just that. Unlike other pantos that often push the boundaries of good taste this is very much a family show, so grannies and the little kids being carried into the venue can all share some good clean fun. Cinderella is a no expense spared panto from Britain’s biggest festive producers that starts with Strictly star John Waite flying down onto Ian Westbrook’s big set. The hard working cast then gleefully go over the top from there with daft jokes aplenty, flamboyant costumes, energetic dancers, pyrotechnics, a couple of real Shetland ponies...