A full house met my kids and I on a blustery day at the wonderful Chickenshed Theatre, with a panto cast of more than 160 of all ages and abilities.
Georgie Reading plays a feisty Cinderella who hangs out with her friends, including Buttons, under the arches. With said arches under threat of demolition and the prince looking for a wife so the country can rejoice in a royal wedding, Cinderella needs to save the day!
The prince’s hunt for a wife is conducted via a reality TV show and Cinderella’s showstopping Fairy Godfather, played with razzle-dazzle by Joseph Morton, who is on hand to ensure that she makes a winning appearance. Sign language is interwoven into every performance to great visual effect and my kids were in awe of the large choreographed numbers, especially the Bollywood ball and the great finale.
The set is simple but the use of animation and computer graphics bring the stage to life in story-book style. This show won’t suit all tastes and it takes a while to get into its stride. If it’s a traditional panto that you are looking for, this is not for you: however, if you want to see the work of a collaborative all-inclusive theatre company and immerse yourself in how theatre can bring joy to those both on and off the stage, then this is one show you should not miss.