Cinderella, New Theatre Cardiff Review
Cinderella at New Theatre Cardiff production image. Photo by Tim Dickeson.
Written by Kay for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Cardiff’s New Theatre celebrated a momentous birthday, with it having officially turned 118 years old. It celebrated in style, hosting its famed panto with a truly Welsh ensemble and an audience that truly seemed to enjoy every moment.
This year, the New Theatre is home to Cinderella, a classic pantomime with a modern twist, that beats with a thoroughly Welsh heart. Having attended the last four pantos within this gorgeous theatre, this production of Cinderella comes top, bringing nonstop fun and laughter.
For the most part, the script is loyal to the original Cinderella story, with a few twists and changes to make it more panto. The scene is Cardiff and the continued references to the South Wales locality is priceless, with humour that had the adults in hysterics. Featuring the usual suspects of Mike Doyle and Denquar Chupak – who are as outstanding as they always are – their fellow cast offer stellar performances. Then there’s the celebrity appearances, this year coming from two Welsh legends, that of Gethin Jones and Owain Wyn Evans.
The best kind of panto celebrities are the ones that truly embrace its spirit, and that is something that Gethin Jones and Owain Wyn Evans do in abundance. The casting department hit the nail on the head in casting Gethin as Prince Charming, and it’s a role that he fits into perfectly. From his jokes about his similarity to the man from my hometown, Steve Jones, to the reminders about his appearance on Strictly. His performance is warm, hilarious and Welsh in every sense of the word.
Then there’s Owain Wyn Evans, a newbie to the panto scene who performed like a seasoned professional. His casting as Dandini easily complimented his bestie, Prince Charming, with him and Gethin posing the perfect pairing. He was funny and charming, with panto allowing him to showcase the true breadth of his talents. For me, three performances truly stood out and each deserves a mention
The Ugly Sisters were iconic, with two actresses playing the parts to perfection. Their strong Welsh accents, combined with the characters modern twist and their outrageous outfits made them hugely popular amongst the audience. Their performances were brilliant and they added colour to the show.
There is truly something about the Welsh accent in panto – it’s perfection. Then there was Jack Ryan, a comedian by trade, who played the iconic part of Buttons. From the minute he walked on the stage he was a joy to watch, with the children screaming and shouting his name with gusto whenever he appeared. His performance was truly memorable, with his delivery of the gags and interaction with the audience undoubtedly one of the best I’ve seen.
They say that if something isn’t broken, it shouldn’t be fixed and this pantomime is the perfect example. With some scenes and some cast members now a firm staple of the Cardiff panto season.
Let’s start with the recurring cast, each of whom has played an important role in making the Cardiff Panto what it is. It was Mike Doyle who started the performance, utilising his renowned “How you doing, alright?” to get the party started. This year he plays Baroness Hardup, but he remained as charismatic and joyous as always.
The children were instantly in hysterics, clearly familiar with the man who is undoubtedly the life and soul of Cardiff’s annual panto. Denquar Chupak once again showcases her talents, offering a performance that will leave children believing that she truly is Cinderella. While Stephanie Webber was sparkly and iconic as the Fairy Godmother.
Then there are the recurring scenes, that of the tongue twister and the infamous panto prop scene. This year, both were edited and updated, but as timelessly funny as they always are. The tongue twister scene was a particular favourite for adults, with Baroness Hardup, Buttons and Dandini unable to hold in their own laughter as the scene unfolded.
There’s a brilliant surprise that features towards the end of the first part, that children will love but which adults will also find surprising. It was a breathtaking surprise that had everyone chatting about it during the interval.
This year’s Cinderella is a magical pantomime that will children and adults in the festive spirit. With jokes for the adults and giggles for the kids, this is the perfect pantomime for the 2024 festive season.
At New Theatre, Cardiff until 5 January 2025
★★★★★
