Review: Cinderella Panto at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre*

Cinderella Panto at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

[Ad-gifted] “Oh no you didn’t, oh yes we did have a ball at Cinderella”

Last night we had the absolute pleasure of going to Stafford Gatehouse to watch Cinderella, there really is no better way to get you in the festive spirit than a good old panto and Cinderella did not disappoint (although my two-year-old would beg to differ, but that is a whole other story).

Last night was our first time visiting this theatre which was bursting with excitement and all the Christmas feels as soon as we walked in, the staff were amazing with each and every one taking time to interact with my little ones and enhance the anticipation creating a real buzz of what was to come for a night watching Cinderella, with Absolutely Fabulous star Harriet Thorpe, Britains Got Talent Ricky K, Staffords very own Tom Vaughan and Aya Elmansouri making her first professional debut!

Harriet Thorpe is no stranger to the theatre however Cinderella is her first ever panto role as a ‘good’ character, The Fairy Godmother and her grace and humour did not disappoint! Aya Elmansouri looked like she was no stranger to the stage making her first professional debut as Cinders, who absolutely wowed the audience with her sensational voice. Tom Vaughan looked every inch the Prince with ‘his face’ and incredible vocals. Ricky K who plays the hilarious yet endearing Buttons, energy is infectious on stage and had my smalls belly laughing throughout.

The Ugly Sisters Tess and Trace Hardup played by the wonderful Will Peaco and Jason Sutton were just amazing, from their ridiculous outfit changes paired with cheeky little innuendos to match!

My favourite character of the evening had to be Dandini, played by Scottish recording artist Allan Jay whose lines had us all laughing, his relationship with the Prince felt as true on stage as it seems off stage, with the Prince who often had to compose himself from joining us roaring with laughter, however Dandini’s poker face was impeccable throughout, adding to the humour!

My favourite part of the show had to be the scene at the spa ‘Curl Up and Dye’ where Tess and Trace went to prep for the Prince who was about to scout the town to find the owner of the famous glass slipper. Buttons was preparing a facial and in true panto fashion went hilariously wrong, ending in The Ugly Sisters and Buttons in a slapstick slosh scene having us all in stitches!

The cleverly written script by Julie Coombe had all the puns and cheeky one liners you could ask for. Including lots of local and much more modern TikTok references, which was clear to see a lot of the older children thoroughly enjoyed joining in on the famous TikTok dances.

For a small cast with a small stage, they put on a huge performance and by the end of the show everyone was on their feet singing and dancing with the cast!

The showing ended with a standing ovation which was truly deserved. If you haven’t booked already then please do as you will not be disappointed! A wonderful family evening for everyone to enjoy.

Cast

Absolutely Fabulous star Harriet Thorpe leads the cast as the Fairy Godmother, along with Hollyoaks’ Tom Vaughan as Prince Charming and newcomer Aya El Mansouri as poor, put-upon Cinders.

Harriet is famous not just for her Ab Fab role but also starring spots in TV shows including The Brittas Empire, Casualty, Endeavour and French and Saunders, as well as the films Calendar Girls, The Lady In The Van and many others.

She has also starred as the evil Madame Morrible in Wicked in the West End and played the sly Madame Thénardier in Les Miserablés and villainous star baker Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd.

Britains’ Got Talent’s Ricky K pulls in the laughs as Buttons, singer Allan Jay is Dandini and finally of course there is Jason Sutton and Will Peaco as the wicked Ugly Sisters. (Boo! Hiss!)

How much do the tickets cost to watch Cinderella Panto?

Tickets are priced from £19.50 to £29.50 (concessions and group discount available).

How do I book tickets to watch Cinderella Panto?

Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting their website here.

How long is the show for and what are the timings?

The show will run until Saturday, 31 December 2022.  The evening shows will run at either 5pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm or 7pm while the matinee shows will be shown at 1.30pm or 2pm. There will also be a relaxed and signed performance as well.

Where is Stafford Gatehouse Theatre?

Stafford Gatehouse is an old Victorian theatre for professional and amateur shows, including Shakespeare and children’s plays. In 2007, the Borough Hall was reopened as Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, by his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. The Borough Hall was originally opened on 20 June 1877 and the building once housed Stafford Borough Council.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Eastgate Street
Stafford
ST16 2LT
Tel: 01785 619080

Where to park?

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is in the heart of Stafford, just seconds from the main shopping centre and central tourist attractions. It is less than 10 minutes’ drive from Junctions 13 and 14 of the M6 and can be found by following the theatre mask symbols on routes into the town centre. There are ample parking facilities a short walk away from the theatre and cycle racks are available outside the building.

About Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Gatehouse Theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022 and you’re invited to join in the fun.  They offer a range of touring shows and in-house productions, covering big name acts and top touring companies to home-grown talent and their popular summer school shows. They also produce the prestigious annual Stafford Shakespeare production, which marked its 30th year this summer with ROMEO + JULIET  in the grounds of Stafford Castle, drawing thousands of visitors from all over the UK and beyond.

They have two performance spaces: the main auditorium, with a seating capacity of 545 and adaptable space of  The MET Studio, which can seat up to 140 guests in a number of configurations.

During the day, the theatre houses a smart new coffee shop (Mon-Sat 10am-3pm) offering top quality drinks and snacks in a beautiful setting, complete with free upgraded Wi-Fi and USB charging points. At night, the theatre’s bar is the perfect place for a pre-show drink or post-show chat – often with the stars of the production popping in.

The  theatre also houses Stafford’s Visitor Information Service, with a touch-screen information centre and helpful staff, where you can find information on regional and national events. Open: Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 5.15pm.

Review by: Chloe O’ Malley

You may also want to read this:

Review: Stafford Gatehouse’s Open-Air Performance of ROMEO + JULIET

Review: Peter Pan Pantomime at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Review of Dick Whittington the Rock ‘n’ roll panto at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre 

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.

Photo Credit: Stafford Gatehouse Theatre