“A thigh-slapping Prince Charming, a magical transformation scene and a happy ending – Cinderella’s got everything you could possibly want in a panto,” says the show’s director James Worthington.
Without giving too much away, James hinted that Cinderella will not be taking a coach from Aberdeen Arts Centre to the ball…
“I can promise the audience will be wowed with pyrotechnics and a dress transforming live in front of their eyes on stage. They will also be enthralled by the way she gets to the ball.”
And that’s not the only fun twist TaleGate Theatre added to this year’s Christmas show.
James said: “Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters returned from a year-long cruise around the world to come and torture her. But what they don’t know is that Cinderella has her best friend Buttons and a secret Fairy Godmother.”
Returning to Aberdeen with Cinderella
Working on the panto for a year, James and his team of talented actors are very much looking forward to once again spreading festive cheer at the Arts Centre.
“This is going to be our third Christmas pantomime – people will remember us for Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty,” said James.
“Believe it or not, we knew last year that we were going to be doing Cinderella in 2022. We’ve been working on it for a whole year – booking special effects, getting the costume designs… everything’s been worked on for a full year.”
Bright, funky, and colorful, the stunning costumes weren’t cheap, but the theatre company was determined to make the production feel “very sumptuous and very regal”.
James said: “The Ugly Sisters are twins so all their costumes are identical. There will also be some topical references and maybe even some popular TV costume references that people might see.”
Keeping ticket prices down
While TaleGate Theatre splashed the cash on costumes and special effects, families won’t have to pay extra to see the dazzling performance.
James said: “It’s costing us more because we want to put on a spectacular performance but we believe that pantos should be affordable for all families.
“We have tried our best to keep the ticket prices down so they’re a similar price to what they were last year so families can afford to come to the panto.”
And James knows it wouldn’t be a proper Aberdeen panto if there wasn’t a bit of Doric thrown into the mix.
“You will see yet again our Doric dames spouting all that wonderful local language throughout the performance,” said the director.
“There will be references to situations, places and at the end of act two, there will be a song specifically written about our love of Aberdeen.”
Cast returns for 2022 panto
Beneath all the sparkle and make-up, theatre fans might be able to spot a few familiar faces.
James said: “We’re very proud to say our Doric dame Phillip Napier is returning – he will be playing one of the Ugly Sisters. We also have Fraser Sivewright who had a year away – he was Abanazar in Aladdin and now he’s playing the opposite Ugly Sister.
“Megan Wright – who played Molevola in Sleeping Beauty – is joining the good side, playing the Fairy Godmother this year.
“Also returning is Xander Gordon who will be playing Buttons and Saffron Gillies, who was Sleeping Beauty last year, will be playing Cinderella this year.”
TaleGate Theatre is also very pleased to be working with Danz Creations and Arts Centre’s Castlegate Theatre Company.
Cinderella is at Aberdeen Arts Centre from Saturday December 3 to Saturday December 24. Tickets can be purchased here.
Conversation