Cinderella pantomime comes to Nottingham Playhouse with John Elkington in starring role
With Christmas just around the corner, pantomime season is almost upon us and venues across the region are gearing up for their festive offerings.
Locally, the first to get under way is Dick Whittington at Nottingham Playhouse.
It opens on Friday, November 25, and runs until Saturday, January14.
Written and directed by Nottingham Playhouse artistic director Adam Penford, the show will see the return of panto favourite John Elkington, squeezing into an array of fabulous frocks to bring comedy chaos as Sarah The Cook.
He will be joined by Lisa Ambalavanar, who starred in Beauty And The Beast at the Playhouse and The A List on Netflix, as Dick Whittington.
Rosanna Bates is Alice Fitzwarren, Christopher Chandler plays King Rat, Danny Hendrix takes the role of Silly Billy, Ewan Ling is Tom The Cat, TJ Lloyd plays Alderman Fitzwarren and Natalie Winsor is the Fairy Bowbells
Pack up your hanky and join the plucky hero and his trusty cat on their quest for fame and fortune.
Their magical rags to riches tale takes the hero to London, where the streets are paved with gold, on to the High Seas, into battle with the evil King Rat and falling in love with his boss’s daughter Alice.
All the while the magical Bow Bells are whispering Dick Whittington’s destiny — to become Mayor of London.
Packed with the trademark dazzling dance, brilliant live music and swashbuckling adventure, as ever the Nottingham Playhouse panto promises a fantastic, festive family night out.
Nottingham Playhouse chief executive Stephanie Sirr said: “This year’s pantomime will be our sparkliest, funniest and most magical yet.
“Not only do we bring you the best performers from the West End and closer to home but we welcome back Uncle Johnnie on keys.
“ He and the fantastic company will bring everyone together for a fabulous time with family and friends of all ages this Christmas.”
Adding to the magic and mayhem will be The Youth Chorus will be made up of local talent Delinda Lee, Donté Slater, Emily Jordan, Esmie Smith-Cockayne, Evie Swetnam-Prince, Freya Smith, George Turton, Gracie Lillie, Henry Pavier, Louis Gillespie, Mairwen Knight, Milly Caswel, Nathan James Hayward and Ruby-Jae Leighton.
Alongside Dick Whittington is the Playhouse’s Christmas show for younger audiences, which this year is Goldilocks And The Three Bears from December 8-31
The show is written and composed by local artists, Anna Wheatley and Jack Quarton, and directed by Playhouse Associate Artist, Hannah Stone.
No matter how hard she tries, Goldilocks can’t sit still. She just wants to dance but where she’s from, it’s forbidden. Unable to keep her toes from tap tap tapping, she has no option but to make her great escape.
She runs through busy cityscapes and frosty beaches until she reaches a magical forest and a home like none she’s ever known. But what happens when a family of bears return to find that someone has made a right old mess of their lair?
With music, magic and plenty of opportunities to join in along the way, this show is aimed at youngsters aged three to eight.
