I went to see Cinderella - this year's pantomime at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley - where there was everything from a flying carriage to fake snow.
This year, Bromley’s Churchill Theatre is playing host to a run of Cinderella as this year's festive panto.
The show has been produced by pantomime producer Crossroads Pantomime and is sponsored by Bromley’s recently opened Brama Hotel.
The show features a cast including Tia Gyngell, Brenda Edwards, John Kimmons, Steven Dalziel, Darren Bennett and Jak Allen-Anderson.
The show stars Tia Gyngell as Cinderella, who really brings a West End quality to the show with her voice and demeanour throughout.
Brenda Edwards made for a witty Fairy Godmother and her vocal performances, along with Gyngell’s, really did elevate the show from feeling like any other panto I’ve been to.
Steven Dalziel brought his comedian background to the role of Buttons, the ever-optimistic and deluded smitten friend-zoned comrade of Cinderella.
His performance brought a lot of the classic panto elements and made for a humorous watch throughout the show.
John Kimmons’ background as a ventriloquist was heavily used in the show, with several rather funny acts throughout, with some members of the audience picked to become his “puppets.”
His act is more improvised and his spontaneity was very entertaining to watch.
As well as starring at the Coliseum in We Will Rock You as the Killer Queen, Brenda has also been a popular face on TV as a regular on ITV’s daytime panel show Loose Women.
Darren Bennett and Jack Allen-Anderson both really brought the humour home for the adults with their hilarious performances as the ugly stepsisters.
Throughout the show they appeared with new outfits, getting more and more outlandish as the show went on, and I was eager to see every new outfit change when they appeared.
The set itself has a very whimsical quality and ranges from the outskirts of the kingdom to the kitchen where Cinderella toils, to the regal ballroom where Cinderella makes her grand entrance.
In true panto style, there were a number of recognisable songs covered throughout the performance, including Dance the Night by Dua Lipa and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! by Abba.
One of the star moments of the show for me was when Cinderella boarded a golden carriage which flew above the stage, followed by fake snow which rained over the audience.
All in all, Cinderella was a funny, entertaining and family-fun show to watch and it definitely got me in the Christmas spirit.
Sensory Advice
The show does contain some flashes of light, as well as sharp changes from light to dark throughout the performance.
The Fairy Godmother also occasionally appears in a puff of smoke and there is a rather loud bang towards the end of the show ending in a rain of confetti.
The show also uses other special affects, like fake snow during the end of the first act when Cinderella flies up in her carriage.
What you need to know
Cinderella will be playing at the Churchill Theatre until December 31, 2023 with tickets starting from £22.
The show has a running time of two hours, which also includes an interval.
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