REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
CINDERELLA
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch
21 November 2024 - 4 Jan 2025
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
CINDERELLA
Queens Theatre, Hornchurch
21 November 2024 - 4 Jan 2025
It’s that time of year again when theatres across the land throw caution to the (cold) wind and turn their attention to the wonderful world of pantomime. Whilst many of the biggest venues field in star names to attract the crowds,, there are many hard working smaller theatre companies who use far more enterprising ideas to fill their seats.
One of these is the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch. This very popular venue has built up a strong reputation for an excellent panto every year, with awards coming in regularly as a result. This year is no exception, and the now well established team of Andrew Pollard (writer) and Tom Self (Composer Lyricist and MD) turn their attention to what for many is considered to be the greatest pantomime of them all, Cinderella.
One of these is the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch. This very popular venue has built up a strong reputation for an excellent panto every year, with awards coming in regularly as a result. This year is no exception, and the now well established team of Andrew Pollard (writer) and Tom Self (Composer Lyricist and MD) turn their attention to what for many is considered to be the greatest pantomime of them all, Cinderella.
We all know the story, with the wicked step-mother and her two cruel daughters who banish Cinderella to the kitchen and use her as their maid. Well, this new version brings a whole new slant, or ‘POV’ to this familiar tale.
The show opens with a lively intro to the company, led by the very energetic Ines Sampaio as the Fir Tree Godmother, who is also our ‘Good Fairy’ for the evening (or afternoon, depending on what time you see it, of course.) This very hard working Godmother is looking to earn her fairy wings by helping someone and doing some good. Along comes Cinderella who has been sent to look for firewood in the forest. She proves herself to be generous of spirit, when she gives up the wood she has found to an elderly lady, who is of course the fairy in disguise.
The show opens with a lively intro to the company, led by the very energetic Ines Sampaio as the Fir Tree Godmother, who is also our ‘Good Fairy’ for the evening (or afternoon, depending on what time you see it, of course.) This very hard working Godmother is looking to earn her fairy wings by helping someone and doing some good. Along comes Cinderella who has been sent to look for firewood in the forest. She proves herself to be generous of spirit, when she gives up the wood she has found to an elderly lady, who is of course the fairy in disguise.
However, there is something different about this Cinderella. She is using sign language, and goes on to tell us that she is deaf, and as a result, her sisters give her a hard time. We are immediately won over by her plight, not least because Em Prendergast, the actor playing her, who is herself partially deaf, has such a warm, delightful presence on stage. She has very clear speech, and a lovely singing voice too, which is so perfectly in tune that it is easy to forget that she is hearing impaired.
Buttons, her friend, played with verve and boyish energy by Lauren Chinery is of course in love with Cinderella and resolves to help her as much as he can. He likes to invent things, and comes up with an electric broom which has a mind of its own.
This panto truly reflects the times we are living in. Our Ugly sisters, Instagrammia and TikTokia, are social media obsessed, and in a succession of ever-gaudier costumes, take constant selfies, and threaten to pop everything on their socials. Hornchurch Panto Dame regular, Dominic Gee-Burch teams up this year with Jared Leathwood, to play an absolutely hilarious pair of Ugly Sisters. They are camp, bitchy, but not really THAT bothered about being mean to Cinderella. The worst thing they do is force her to rip up her invite to the Ball. They are far more interested in posing, preening, and posting their photos. These two actors have a great rapport, and work well with the crowd. Well matched in height and physique, one dark, one fair, and looking fabulous in their costumes, they never quite let you forget that they are really men underneath, picking on hapless audience member Nathan throughout.
Buttons, her friend, played with verve and boyish energy by Lauren Chinery is of course in love with Cinderella and resolves to help her as much as he can. He likes to invent things, and comes up with an electric broom which has a mind of its own.
This panto truly reflects the times we are living in. Our Ugly sisters, Instagrammia and TikTokia, are social media obsessed, and in a succession of ever-gaudier costumes, take constant selfies, and threaten to pop everything on their socials. Hornchurch Panto Dame regular, Dominic Gee-Burch teams up this year with Jared Leathwood, to play an absolutely hilarious pair of Ugly Sisters. They are camp, bitchy, but not really THAT bothered about being mean to Cinderella. The worst thing they do is force her to rip up her invite to the Ball. They are far more interested in posing, preening, and posting their photos. These two actors have a great rapport, and work well with the crowd. Well matched in height and physique, one dark, one fair, and looking fabulous in their costumes, they never quite let you forget that they are really men underneath, picking on hapless audience member Nathan throughout.
Cinderella, of course, does get to go to the Ball, with the help of the Fairy Godmother, and of course falls in love with the disarmingly pretty Prince Charming of Elizabeth Rowe. This very talented young actor learned the part with only four days to go before Opening Night. She was pitch perfect and clearly in total command of her role . A truly great achievement indeed.
When Cinderella dashes away from the Ball at midnight, she leaves one of her shoes, in this case a pink trainer, behind, and the search begins to find her. In one of the most touching scenes, the Prince pledges his eternal love to her, and shows his commitment by showing her that he has begun to learn Sign Language. The other poignant moment comes when Cinderella gently explains to Buttons that whilst there are many different kinds of love, he will always be her best friend, eventually getting an invite on the honeymoon!
All in all, the whole acting company amounts the grand total of eight actors. Somehow, the energy never flags for a moment. Apart from the named principal roles, Rhianna Goodwin and Luke Thornton (also MD from the drums) provide sterling support as the chorus. Everyone in the cast also plays an instrument or two at some point.
Director, Kate Lovell, makes sure the whole show is pacy and fun. It has been a long held ambition for her to produce a truly inclusive panto reflective of society as we know it today and, to this end, her and her writers have truly succeeded. It is truly groundbreaking. That’s not to say that the show is in any way preachy. On the contrary, the whole show is packed with great sketches, lively, catchy songs, and everything you expect to see in a panto: slapstick, plenty of booing, and riotous humour. With such a small cast and over 70 shows to perform, one can only wonder where the energy will come from to sustain them all. Here’s to a happy, healthy run and huge audiences to cheer them all on!
Review: Andrew Walters
When Cinderella dashes away from the Ball at midnight, she leaves one of her shoes, in this case a pink trainer, behind, and the search begins to find her. In one of the most touching scenes, the Prince pledges his eternal love to her, and shows his commitment by showing her that he has begun to learn Sign Language. The other poignant moment comes when Cinderella gently explains to Buttons that whilst there are many different kinds of love, he will always be her best friend, eventually getting an invite on the honeymoon!
All in all, the whole acting company amounts the grand total of eight actors. Somehow, the energy never flags for a moment. Apart from the named principal roles, Rhianna Goodwin and Luke Thornton (also MD from the drums) provide sterling support as the chorus. Everyone in the cast also plays an instrument or two at some point.
Director, Kate Lovell, makes sure the whole show is pacy and fun. It has been a long held ambition for her to produce a truly inclusive panto reflective of society as we know it today and, to this end, her and her writers have truly succeeded. It is truly groundbreaking. That’s not to say that the show is in any way preachy. On the contrary, the whole show is packed with great sketches, lively, catchy songs, and everything you expect to see in a panto: slapstick, plenty of booing, and riotous humour. With such a small cast and over 70 shows to perform, one can only wonder where the energy will come from to sustain them all. Here’s to a happy, healthy run and huge audiences to cheer them all on!
Review: Andrew Walters
You shall go to the ball, as the classic panto family favourite Cinderella plays at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 21 Nov 2024 - 4 Jan 2025.
Cinderella dreams of a glamorous life far removed from the everyday grind of primping and preening her vain sisters, and an invitation to the Prince’s royal ball is just the ticket! But the Ugly Sisters have other plans for Cinders, confiscating her ticket to the party of the decade… Fear not, for her Fairy Godmother arrives in the nick of time, ready to weave her magic and transform Cinderella’s fortunes! But can she sashay away from the sensational soirée before the clock strikes midnight and her riches turn back to rags once more…?
Returning cast includes Dom Gee-Burch (Dick Whittington 2023, Sleeping Beauty 2022, QTH) as Instagrammia; Em Prendergast (Witchfinder's Sister, QTH; A Christmas Carol, Hull Truck) as Cinderella; and Luke Thornton (Love Letters, QTH; Goldilocks, New Wolsey Theatre) as Chorus/Understudy and show musical director.
New cast members are Lauren Chinery (Jack and the Beanstalk, Southmill Arts) as Buttons; Rhianna Goodwin (Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Graduate) as Chorus, Understudy and Dance Captain; Jared Leathwood (Goldilocks, New Wolsey Theatre) as Tiktokia and Ines Sampaio (UK Panto Awards 2024 nominee - Best Supporting Actress, Cinderella, Little Wolf Productions) as Fir Tree Godmother.
This much-loved traditional pantomime reunites the team behind last year’s smash-hit production Dick Whittington. Written by Andrew Pollard (writer of Robin Hood panto for CBeebies), with original music, lyrics and musical direction by Tom Self (UK Panto Awards 2024 nominee - Contribution to Music, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) and directed by Kate Lovell (Frostiana, Blueprint at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; Tales from the Woven O, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and Co-Creative Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).
Bursting with glitz and glamour, it’ll be the most magical event of the year!
Tickets start at £13 and are on sale now at www.queens-theatre.co.uk
Cinderella dreams of a glamorous life far removed from the everyday grind of primping and preening her vain sisters, and an invitation to the Prince’s royal ball is just the ticket! But the Ugly Sisters have other plans for Cinders, confiscating her ticket to the party of the decade… Fear not, for her Fairy Godmother arrives in the nick of time, ready to weave her magic and transform Cinderella’s fortunes! But can she sashay away from the sensational soirée before the clock strikes midnight and her riches turn back to rags once more…?
Returning cast includes Dom Gee-Burch (Dick Whittington 2023, Sleeping Beauty 2022, QTH) as Instagrammia; Em Prendergast (Witchfinder's Sister, QTH; A Christmas Carol, Hull Truck) as Cinderella; and Luke Thornton (Love Letters, QTH; Goldilocks, New Wolsey Theatre) as Chorus/Understudy and show musical director.
New cast members are Lauren Chinery (Jack and the Beanstalk, Southmill Arts) as Buttons; Rhianna Goodwin (Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Graduate) as Chorus, Understudy and Dance Captain; Jared Leathwood (Goldilocks, New Wolsey Theatre) as Tiktokia and Ines Sampaio (UK Panto Awards 2024 nominee - Best Supporting Actress, Cinderella, Little Wolf Productions) as Fir Tree Godmother.
This much-loved traditional pantomime reunites the team behind last year’s smash-hit production Dick Whittington. Written by Andrew Pollard (writer of Robin Hood panto for CBeebies), with original music, lyrics and musical direction by Tom Self (UK Panto Awards 2024 nominee - Contribution to Music, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) and directed by Kate Lovell (Frostiana, Blueprint at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; Tales from the Woven O, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and Co-Creative Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch).
Bursting with glitz and glamour, it’ll be the most magical event of the year!
Tickets start at £13 and are on sale now at www.queens-theatre.co.uk