CINDERELLA
Tyne Theatre and Opera House
★★★★
“transport yourself to a land of merry magic, music, and magnificent comedy”
Cinderella at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House is the perfect addition to any festive family plans. Directed excellently by Glen Murphy, this hilarious panto brings a sparkle of magic to Newcastle this December.
Ready to go with a gorgeous set and all its classic panto gags; Cinderella just about hits all the beats. Not a moment is wasted to get a chuckle, boo, or “he’s behind you” from the audience, and the flow of the show is quick-paced and engaging. Buttons, played by Charlie Richmond, punctuates every scene he is in with fabulously hilarious one-liners and ad-libs, and keeps the pace of the show chugging on. Moreover, Guy Pascall, Charlie Richmond, and Tom Whalley’s writing is laugh-a-second and knows how to get even the grumpiest of parents to respond with “oh no he didn’t”.
The script does have a reliance on reinforcing quite a traditional fairy-tale message. Although Cinderella makes a point of celebrating meeting someone that values her in her prince, it would also have been positive to have more emphasis on Cinderella’s escape from her toxic sisters, and independence from that environment, rather than her dreams entirely revolving round finding a man to marry. The unnecessary addition of a romantic plot with Buttons does also give some food for thought. I can’t help but wonder how much more enjoyable a purely platonic relationship between Cinderella and Buttons from the get-go might be.
Expectedly straying occasionally from the well-known fairy-tale, the show allows lesser-known characters such as the prince’s footmen (played brilliantly by dance duo Twist and Pulse) to the forefront to really shine. They are truly standout across the show, mesmerising the audience with tirelessly funny and astonishing dancing. Jamie Corner as Prince Canny and Robbie Dee as Baron Hardup round off the cast well. Dee’s slapstick comedy is stupendous, and Corner keeps up the pace with the demanding choreography he performs alongside with Twist and Pulse.
Kerry Blaskett-Wetherall’s choreography is spellbinding and uplifts the talented dancing ability of the ensemble. Overall, the dancing strength of the cast out-shines the vocal punch of the show. However, there are some standout singers. the show’s tremendous leading lady, Scarlett Robinson, impressively displays both her acting and singing talent as Cinderella, creating a truly memorable experience that will leave both kids and adults speechless. The live band also add to the seamless magic of the production, lifting every scene with live sound effects, fourth wall breaks, and moving swiftly between the variety of catchy pop song medleys. Most song choices feel current and give nods to music enjoyed by kids and their parents, including the likes of Backstreet Boys and ABBA, but also KPop Demon Hunters and Wicked. Admittedly, some music feels a tad dated, and the constant medleys do feel somewhat excessive at times. I couldn’t help but feel cheated of hearing longer versions of some song-choices, especially when Robinson sings them so beautifully.
The Ugly Stepsisters, played by Lewis Denny and Micky Cochrane, are everything audiences want panto dames to be. Their scenes are overflowing with quick-wit innuendo and enormous energy, interacting with the audience with close-to-the-bone one-liners. Their matching over-the-top costuming, by David Gibson and Alice Frith, is worth buying a ticket for alone. Equally, Maureen Nolan’s Fairy Godmother adds a lot to her magical performance. Nolan’s highlights include her rendition of her hit ‘I’m In the Mood for Dancing’, where fans of the song and Nolan can enjoy its up-beat fun; perfectly befitting a Prince’s ball! Nolan’s lines and delivery feel a little cheesy as she appears across the show- but isn’t that made for pantomime?
Ideal for the whole family; this is not a show to miss! Head down to Cinderella at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House to transport yourself to a land of merry magic, music, and magnificent comedy.
CINDERELLA
Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Reviewed on 13th December 2025
by Molly Knox
Photography by Limelight Studios
