REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
CINDERELLA
The Most Magical Panto Of Them All!
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 13th December - Sunday 4th January 2026
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
CINDERELLA
The Most Magical Panto Of Them All!
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Saturday 13th December - Sunday 4th January 2026
There’s always something rather special about panto press night at the Cliffs Pavilion, and this year’s, Cinderella – The Most Magical Panto of Them All! delivered exactly the kind of larger-than-life escapism that audiences have come to expect from Southend Theatres.
The magical story of Cinderella is retold with Baron Hardup (Steve Hewlett) not only being the father of Cinderella and her two delightfully dreadful sisters, Hernia and Verruca Hardup, but he is also Court Jester at Prince Charming’s Royal Court. As tradition dictates, Dandini (Alexanda O’Reilly) swaps places with the Prince so Prince Charming (Djavan Van De Fliert) can experience life as a “normal” person and, hopefully, meet someone who loves him for who he truly is. Alongside all this, Buttons (Ross King) remains loyally by Cinderella’s (Oonagh Cox) side, offering friendship and plenty of comic relief, away from her nasty step-sisters.
Steve Hewlett does a great job as Baron Hardup. A seasoned ventriloquist, Hewlett keeps the laughs coming thick and fast, aided brilliantly by his grumpy old-man sidekick. One particular highlight – and possibly the biggest belly laugh of the night – came when Hewlett brought an audience member on stage to become his unsuspecting “dummy”. Well done to Warren for being such a great sport and be careful if you have front row seats - this could be you!
The magical story of Cinderella is retold with Baron Hardup (Steve Hewlett) not only being the father of Cinderella and her two delightfully dreadful sisters, Hernia and Verruca Hardup, but he is also Court Jester at Prince Charming’s Royal Court. As tradition dictates, Dandini (Alexanda O’Reilly) swaps places with the Prince so Prince Charming (Djavan Van De Fliert) can experience life as a “normal” person and, hopefully, meet someone who loves him for who he truly is. Alongside all this, Buttons (Ross King) remains loyally by Cinderella’s (Oonagh Cox) side, offering friendship and plenty of comic relief, away from her nasty step-sisters.
Steve Hewlett does a great job as Baron Hardup. A seasoned ventriloquist, Hewlett keeps the laughs coming thick and fast, aided brilliantly by his grumpy old-man sidekick. One particular highlight – and possibly the biggest belly laugh of the night – came when Hewlett brought an audience member on stage to become his unsuspecting “dummy”. Well done to Warren for being such a great sport and be careful if you have front row seats - this could be you!
Cinderella is played beautifully by Oonagh Cox (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Matilda the Musical), who brings a genuine sweetness and warmth to the role. Vocally, she is really impressive, delivering some gorgeous songs – it’s a shame we didn’t get to hear more of her in this respect. Djavan Van de Fliert (Kristoff in Frozen the Musical) makes for a confident and naturally charming Prince, also showing off some strong vocals.
Nic Greenshields and Ewan Goddard steal the show in terms of costume changes, with some truly fantastic creations that are both dazzling and deliciously bonkers. Their characters are, as you would expect, outrageously awful to Cinderella warranting the loud boos from the audience every time they appear "Aren't we gorgeous?" Booooo! "Shut your faces!" - a sign of a job well done.
Nic Greenshields and Ewan Goddard steal the show in terms of costume changes, with some truly fantastic creations that are both dazzling and deliciously bonkers. Their characters are, as you would expect, outrageously awful to Cinderella warranting the loud boos from the audience every time they appear "Aren't we gorgeous?" Booooo! "Shut your faces!" - a sign of a job well done.
Photo: Danny Kaan
Hollywood Reporter, Ross King, is an endearing and delightfully silly Buttons, and yes, Strictly Come Dancing does get a mention following his early exit from the competition. A dance-off between Ross and Rylan was a highlight, with Rylan in particular impressing on the dance floor – looking like he was in his element!
Of course, for many, the star of the show is Rylan, and it’s easy to see why. As the Fairy Godfather, he is dazzling, delivering a gloriously camp, larger-than-life performance packed with sheer gusto and genuine warmth. He’s more than happy to lean into self-deprecating humour too, batting off constant jokes about his gleaming teeth. His natural rapport with the cast and audience ensures he has everyone firmly onboard right from his first flamboyantly swishy entrance - plus, he has some great asides worked into the script; “Meet me in the forest,” he says, adding, with a wink, “it’s not the first time I’ve said that either…” to chuckles from the audience.
Naturally, Southend-on-Sea is firmly woven into the fabric of this panto, being the storyline's pantomime Kingdom, kicking off with Petula Clark’s Downtown reworked into, “Southend! Things are much brighter there, everything’s waiting for you!” (if only) which will probably be an ear worm for a good few days!
Of course, for many, the star of the show is Rylan, and it’s easy to see why. As the Fairy Godfather, he is dazzling, delivering a gloriously camp, larger-than-life performance packed with sheer gusto and genuine warmth. He’s more than happy to lean into self-deprecating humour too, batting off constant jokes about his gleaming teeth. His natural rapport with the cast and audience ensures he has everyone firmly onboard right from his first flamboyantly swishy entrance - plus, he has some great asides worked into the script; “Meet me in the forest,” he says, adding, with a wink, “it’s not the first time I’ve said that either…” to chuckles from the audience.
Naturally, Southend-on-Sea is firmly woven into the fabric of this panto, being the storyline's pantomime Kingdom, kicking off with Petula Clark’s Downtown reworked into, “Southend! Things are much brighter there, everything’s waiting for you!” (if only) which will probably be an ear worm for a good few days!
Photo: Danny Kaan
With this version of Cinderella, all the traditional panto boxes have been well and truly ticked. The much-loved “If I Were Not in Pantomime” routine was huge fun and had the children screaming with laughter, while adults were treated throughout to a steady stream of cheeky innuendoes that flew comfortably over younger heads but landed nicely with the mums and dads. Ross King’s James Bond joke gave many of us a good giggle too. I do think that for regular pantomime-goers there is a feeling that the same old skits can become slightly stale and it would be nice to see an injection of fresh material to keep such high expectations met. That said, the joy of panto is that there are always new audiences every year, where children may have come to experience their first ever theatre visit; and this will always be a special moment for them.
Visually, this production doesn’t hold back and this year’s panto truly delivers in the department of sparkle and shine galore and lots of laugh-out-loud moments, combined with the unmistakable Crossroads Pantomimes panache - Cinderella is a joyful festive treat from start to finish.
Cinderella – The Most Magical Panto of Them All! is exactly what festive family theatre should be: colourful, chaotic, magical and full of laughter. With something for all ages and a hardworking, talented cast and ensemble clearly enjoying every moment, this is a pantomime that more than earns its place as a Southend Christmas tradition.
Review: Kim Tobin
Visually, this production doesn’t hold back and this year’s panto truly delivers in the department of sparkle and shine galore and lots of laugh-out-loud moments, combined with the unmistakable Crossroads Pantomimes panache - Cinderella is a joyful festive treat from start to finish.
Cinderella – The Most Magical Panto of Them All! is exactly what festive family theatre should be: colourful, chaotic, magical and full of laughter. With something for all ages and a hardworking, talented cast and ensemble clearly enjoying every moment, this is a pantomime that more than earns its place as a Southend Christmas tradition.
Review: Kim Tobin
Photo: Danny Kaan