It's been two years since New Mills Art Theatre were able to stage a pantomime, but for their return, they're bringing out the big guns with one of the panto classics, Cinderella.
It was clear from the queues at the door how much the New Mills community has missed this favourite milestone in their theatrical year.
In a New Mills panto, you know you’re going to get top-class production values, and Cinderella is no exception.
With its eye-catching sets, beautiful costumes and faultless choreography (a tap-dance number involving a pantomime horse is especially memorable), the audience always feels in very safe hands.
All the familiar panto characters are well represented here, in a very able company. The effervescent Alice Bowden brings an upbeat energy to the role of Cinderella, while her trusty friend, Buttons, played by Seb Green, handling the sometimes daunting task of playing off the audience with confidence.
Lisa Quin makes a dashing Prince Charming, whose right-hand man Dandini is given a jaunty comedy make-over by the lively Rebecca Towner-Yates. Mhairi Jennings is a delightful ‘Fairy G’, and demonstrates a lovely singing voice in the first half’s closing number (where there’s also an amazing, magical, quick change).
PHOTO ALBUM: Browse through some images of the performance, courtesy of Mike Petch (http://www.mphotographic.co.uk/)
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
- Cinderella at New Mills Art Theatre 2022. Image credit: Mike Petch.
It’s always heartening to see young talent given their moment, and in the roles of the Broker’s Men, Bodget and Leggett, Isabel Fletcher-Shaw and Alfie Hall bring great confidence and energy to the pages of comedy one-liners they’re called upon to deliver.
Meanwhile, Isaac Fletcher-Shaw, surprisingly cast as the crusty Chambers, delivers the role of the pompous official with assurance.
No Cinderella would be complete without its Ugly Sisters and here they’re brought to the stage by comedy powerhouse couple Natalie and Stewart Bowden.
In monstrously funny performances, no joke - no matter how ‘out there’ they may sometimes feel - is out of reach by this brilliant, grotesque pair.
More than anything else, this was a celebration - of community, of theatre, and of bringing panto back where it belongs.
Cinderella continues at New Mills Art Theatre on Friday, February 4 at 7.15pm and Saturday, February 5, at 2.15pm and 7.15pm. Ticket details can be found at www.ticketsource.co.uk/arttheatrepantomime or email friendsofthearttheatre@gmail.com.
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