A visit to the Theatre Royal for the annual pantomime has become a much-loved family tradition for us and the perfect way to officially kick off the festive season. It’s always an A-MAZ-ING trip, and this year certainly didn’t disappoint.
From the very first scene, the cast impresses with exceptional vocal talent. The Fairy Godmother, played by Christina Bianco, has possibly the best singing voice I’ve ever heard, and her impressions were nothing short of outstanding. I’d happily see her again on tour next year.
Christina Bianco (Fairy Godmother)_credit Whitefoot Photography
Prince Charming and Dandini, portrayed by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje and Daniel Norford respectively, kept the audience thoroughly engaged, their chemistry effortless and entertaining. The Wicked Sisters, brought to life by Britt Lenting and May Tether, were brilliant throughout, relishing the boos and hisses with gusto.
Cinderella, played by Elly Jay, delivered beautiful vocals from start to finish. A particularly memorable sketch saw her wrestling comically with Buttons and Prince Charming – a moment that had the entire audience giggling, with my boys and me almost in tears of laughter.
Buttons was a hit with every generation, connecting brilliantly with the audience – especially one unsuspecting person in the front row! His facial expressions and playful silliness kept the laughs coming. This year, we also saw three young audience members invited onstage by Neil Hurst to join in his famous “Smart Fellers” routine. After attempting it ourselves in the car on the way home, we can confirm – it’s not as easy as it looks!
But without doubt, the standout performance came from Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother. He was nothing short of FAB-U-LOUS. Who knew his voice was that impressive and that he could move like that?
The stage design, scenery, and costumes were stunning, with several moments that left me genuinely speechless, wondering how on earth they’d pulled them off.
Finding something the whole family can enjoy isn’t always easy, but if you’re looking for festive fun this Christmas, I highly recommend Cinderella at the Theatre Royal. With family members ranging from ages 9 to 70, we all left saying we’d happily go again. There is so much happening on stage that you could watch it a second or even third time and still be thoroughly entertained.
Cinderella runs at the Theatre Royal Nottingham until 4 January 2026. For performance times and ticket information, please visit the website: www.trch.co.uk.