Cinderella 2018 at the Bristol Hippodrome Review

Reviewed by Rachel Cassey-Holland

To say we enjoyed Cinderella at the Hippodrome in Bristol is an absolute understatement. From start to finish this is a pantomime like no other we’ve ever experienced, a production that has it all – great sets, fantastic costumes and brilliant performances, especially from the headline acts Brian Conley and Gok Wan.

This was our first time to see a show at the Hippodrome and we were pleased to say that it exceeded our expectations in many ways. The seats were comfy with plenty of leg room and the views good even for the little ones in the family. The only downside, and something to be aware of was the high cost of snacks and refreshments especially when trying to supply a family of five, things can quickly become very expensive!

The show itself is a simple re-telling of the Charles Perrault fairy tale, with a few modern twists. Plenty of local references kept it relevant to Bristol, which was a nice touch, including the fabulous Ugly Sisters, who had great Bristol accents and even better Bristol attitude! The show’s star performers included Lauren Hall as Cinderella, Scott Mobley as Prince Charming and, of course, Gok Wan as the Fairy Gokmother and Brian Conley as Buttons. The chemistry between Gok Wan and Brian Conley provided many of the shows funnier moments and there were moments of ad lib, which were utterly marvellous. We feel that Brian Conley in particular should be singled out for praise in pulling off the fine line between entertaining a theatre full of young children as well as playing to the parents, many who might have been dragged there against their will. I think it is fair to say he had won them and everyone else over by the end of the show.

I don’t want to give away any of the special effect surprises in the show, but what I can say is there were times when the performance felt truly magical and that is not an easy feeling to manufacture. With plenty of references to modern culture to keep it right up to date (including an impressive “Floss” from Conley backed by the Bristol School of Dancing) there was something for everyone in the family to connect with.

The show ended with Conley inviting some children from the audience on stage where he interviewed them which was one of the highlights for the little ones in the family who could be heard howling with hilarity by the end of the show (my 4 year old being one of them!).

We would whole-heartedly recommend this show and venue to families of all shapes and sizes, this is truly pantomime at its absolute best and will convert any cynical soul who may not have experienced a show as polished, entertaining, funny and heart-warming as this production was. The level of work that must have gone into making this production of Cinderella so enjoyable is difficult to imagine, but it is clear that the attention to every detail has resulted in a pantomime that will live long in our hearts and minds.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £12 to £51.50 (plus £3.65 transaction fee).

Cinderella is at the Bristol Hippodrome from 8 December 2018 to 6 January 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/bristol or call the box office on 0844 871 3012.

Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UZ | 0844 871 3012