Cinderella At Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Lynsey

Back at the Festival Theatre, the magic of pantomime is alive with this year’s dazzling production of Cinderella. A classic tale that remains a firm favourite for panto. Very loosely based on the legendary romance of a kind girl who must tolerate an evil stepmother and her very ugly daughters, one day with the help of her fairy godmother meets her Prince Charming.

Of course, no Edinburgh panto would be complete without the legendary comic duo, Allan Stewart and Grant Stott who are joined again this year by our favourite on screen gangster Jordan Young.

Grant Stott, donning the mantle of the villain we all love to hiss and boo at, is simply brilliant. His flair for wickedness, coupled with just the right amount of campy mischief, makes him a standout. His antics are perfectly balanced with – my personal favourite – Allan Stewart, who returns as Fairy May in a whirlwind of outrageous costumes and quick-witted humour. And let’s not forget the daft but very lovable Jordan Young as Buttons, who the kids all adore. His slapstick routines had everyone laughing out loud. Together, they are the ultimate team of silliness. At times it’s difficult to know what is scripted and what is not. They genuinely seem to have such fun performing.

A mark of any great panto is the audience participation, and Cinderella delivers in spades. From the good old booing to shouting and dancing to picking on some audience members for a bit of cheeky banter. It has something for everyone with its clever blend of slapstick and topical humour both adults and children are thoroughly entertained.

But it’s not all laughs and chaos. Prince Charming (played by Will Callan) and Cinderella (Amber Sylvia Edwards) brought a touch of elegance to the evening. Their performances were polished and professional, with just the right amount of sparkle. And the costumes were flamboyant and magnificent. From Cinderella’s glittering ball gown to Fairy May’s utterly bonkers ensembles. The stage design, too, was magical with twinkling lights, dramatic backdrops, and just enough pizzazz to transport you straight to the fairy tale world.

The Festival Theatre itself is the perfect venue for a family outing. Modern, spacious, with friendly staff, bars and snack stalls. Its prime location in the heart of Edinburgh, it’s easy to make a night of it with easy access by public transport and some parking close by. Grab a bite or drink at the theatre itself before the show or at a nearby restaurant or bar after the show—there are plenty of options.

My family and I had a great evening shouting and laughing from beginning to end watching the legendary line up get up to their old panto tricks. I would recommend the show to all audiences – young and old, families, couples or friends – there is something for everyone. It certainly got me in the Christmas spirit. I would give a very merry five stars out of five for this Christmas cracker of a panto!

Rating: 5/5

https://www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/all-shows/panto-2024-cinderella/2282

Ticket Prices vary from £20.75 Sat 23 Nov to Tue 31 Dec 2024