What do you get when you cross a fairy, a breakfast pancake machine, dungeons, an interactive 1970s video game, a mouse called Buttons, a feckless Prince Charming, a singer-songwriter called Cinderella, Dandino the baddie, singing, dancing, bad jokes and sweets?
Yes you guessed it, it’s the Oxford Playhouse‘s pantomime Cinderella which opens on November 25.
Director Toby Hulse says: “I am beyond excited. Panto brings an entire community into the theatre to participate in something together. It’s Christmas personified and I’m a big fan.”
“Put it this way Cinderella isn’t sitting around waiting for Prince Charming, she’s got far too much to do”
So what can we expect? “This year’s panto is really funny,” Toby promises. “We’ve had so much fun in rehearsals. It’s absolutely loopy but then you can always get away with that in pantomime.”
“And while the writers have been respectful of the original story, they’ve added in a lot of fun and brought it bang up-to-date. Put it this way Cinderella isn’t sitting around waiting for Prince Charming, she’s got far too much to do, including becoming a singer-songwriter,” Toby says.
“But more than that, Cinderella is the dream pantomime because it’s all about holding onto the dream and working together to make impossible things happen.
Toby, a children’s theatre maestro, was hand-picked to take over from Steve Marmion who directed Oxford Playhouse’s pantos since 2015. So big boots to fill? “Its a new challenge but that’s been really exciting. And I’m a great fan of panto and just want to continue the tradition of bringing us together through stories.
“Besides, the script is spectacular – it has real depth, unusual twists and real heart so appeals right across the board.
Cinderella is the dream panto because it’s all about holding onto the dream and working together to make impossible things happen
“So I will be nervous on opening night but more than anything I’m excited. I can’t wait to see everyone’s responses and to see them all shouting cheering and laughing.
“We all love pantos; the routine, the spectacle, the tradition so it’s going to be fantastic.”
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW
Cinderella runs at Oxford Playhouse from November 25 to January 8. Book at https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/cinderella-panto
