Cinderella at Epstein Theatre Review
Written by Rony for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
It’s so great to see the Epstein Theatre back open, and to have Regal Entertainment pantos back in Liverpool again where they belong. This year’s production of ‘Cinderella’ is guaranteed to be a fun family night out that will put you in the Christmas spirit; there’s something for everyone in this traditional scouse panto.
This version of ‘Cinderella’ follows the classic pantomime story, but with the removal of the wicked stepmother. Whilst it is a shame we don’t necessarily have a typical pantomime dame character, ugly stepsisters Mounjaro and Ozempic Hardup (played by Shania Pain and Brenda La Beau) much make up for it and are the standout of this show. They are nothing short of pantomime fabulosity, providing the audience with jokes, brilliant vocals, the occasional adlib and countless bonkers costumes (many of which I believe were made by La Beau herself). Their performance of ‘The Sparkling Diamond’ from Moulin Rouge is a true showstopper.
The entire cast are great throughout the performance. Leanne Campbell is a brilliant Fairy Godmother and is perfect for the narrator role. She commands the audience exceptionally well and has a great voice, too. Kevin Duala makes a charming Buttons who was extremely well received by the audience, Michael Nelson is a great Prince Charming, and Conor Barrie’s performance as Dandini was very funny – with his performance alongside Campbell and Duala in ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ being a hilariously chaotic highlight of the night. At times, however, Barrie’s clarity of diction is lost. Katie McGlynn tackles the ‘rags to riches’ character of Cinderella well and has great interactions with the audience but her vocals don’t quite reach midnight.
The choreography (by Nazene Danielle) performed throughout the show is brilliant, and the Dynamix Performing Arts ensemble tackle all routines with ease. For me, the standout choreography moments were ‘The Sparkling Diamond’ and the glorious finale, which was a highlight of the evening. The only downside to the choreography, through no fault of Nazene Danielle’s, is the music selection, which all feels quite similar. As a result, this slightly restricts the dances, and I wish we could have seen more styles explored as the choreography and dancers’ execution were both great. Another problem with the music selection is that except for ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters, there seem to be few songs that appeal to the younger audiences. I also love a big glitzy show number and therefore wish there were maybe one or two more songs in the show as well as a broader selection of music.
Chantelle Joseph’s direction is also great, honing on every aspect of pantomime to make this show a truly memorable experience. I particularly loved the slapstick moments, and the intentional ‘goes wrong’ chaos of ‘Islands In The Stream’ and ‘Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong’. These could easily have fallen flat but instead provided genuinely witty and funny moments. The show is also extremely well-paced, and very rarely seems to drag (although I always find the song sheet and shoutouts go on for too long). The show is packed with modern references, scouse jokes and lots of innuendo. There’s something to please and entertain everyone!
The only other problem I have with this show is the design elements. Due to the limited stage space of the Epstein, some of the set feels squashed and doesn’t lend itself well to the venue. The budget for this show is quite clearly high, but at times some moments seem to feel amateur. The reveal of Cinderella’s horse-drawn carriage, for example, got more laughs than it did cheers; it felt unintentionally comical, and I don’t think this was the goal. The sound and lighting design work well too but aren’t quite as sharp as the glass used to make Cinderella’s slipper, with a few cues feeling delayed and the spark machine randomly turning on during moments where it didn’t feel appropriate.
Overall, if you’re wanting a traditional, scouse panto that’s sure to entertain the entire family this Christmas, then look no further than ‘Cinderella’ at the Epstein Theatre. It’s joyful, hilarious, and sure to put you in the festive spirit thanks to its talented cast, clever direction and well-executed choreography.
Plays until Sunday 4th January 2026.
★ ★ ★ ★
