If you look back over the history of Swansea Grand pantomimes you’ll see that CINDERELLA is always a firm favourite. It’s back this year, feeling as modern and updated as you can get, while retaining all the things which make a Swansea show so good. A lot of that is down to the incredible local talent in the show, with the addition of two TV favourites.
AJ & CURTIS PRITCHARD have sashayed into the city for an all singing, and obviously all dancing affair, which is as bright and colourful as you’d see in any TV dancing competition. And to complete the Strictly analogy, Cinderella is absolutely FAB-U-LOUS.
But be in no doubt that while the main stars may be brothers, the show is very much a whole family affair, where everyone gets to shine.
AJ & Curtis join panto favourites, KEV JOHNS and MATT EDWARDS, who return along with last year’s Beast STEFAN PEJIC, who adds a new twist to proceedings as Fairy Godparent. The main company is complete with Cinderella herself, SAMANTHA THOMAS. and the Wicked Step-Sisters (no more ugly step-sisters nowadays) ELLA BIDDLECOMBE & SOPHIE SHERIDAN.
You can take a look at our meet the cast special, including interviews with all of the above – HERE.
Cinderella is the original rags to riches tale where poor Cinders works night and day but dreams of a very different life. When an invitation to the royal ball drops in her lap it looks as if her wish may be granted. But hang on, this is Panto land and we have Wicked Stepsisters out to drop coal in Cinderella’s stocking and make sure she doesn’t go so they can have the handsome Prince (AJ) all to themselves.
Once again Swansea has another dazzling, award-winning, digital set, and as spectacular as it is, and believe me it really is – for me, and the audience, it’s the characters on stage which really bring this show to life. The cast are faultless and deliver two hours of non-stop fun, music and don’t forget the dance, understandably there’s an extra helping of that this year.
AJ & Curtis are clear favourites with younger members of the audience, although I could see a twinkle in the eyes of a few of the older ones too. That’s the thing about Strictly, it’s audience appeal is much like a pantomime, very much aimed at the family, so the brothers are a great choice this year.
I also have to come back to the Grand regulars, it now feels there couldn’t be a Swansea Panto without Kev Johns in his usual role. As we’ve said many times before, there ain’t nothing like a Kev Johns Dame.
Matt Edwards is the perfect partner for Kev too, although you always feel they are a glance away from completely losing the plot and breaking into fits of laughter on stage – and I mean that as a great compliment. Seriously, one look at Kev’s glamorous outfit and I’d defy any of you to keep a straight face.
As one member of the audience told us…..
‘That Matt is completely nuts, he’s absolutely hilarious, and when him and Kev get together they are the best comedy duo around.’
As for Samantha Thomas, you won’t find a more perfect Cinders. She smiled from start to finish and sang beautifully. The very cleverly choreographed dress changing routine, was highlighted with a stunning rendition of ‘A Moment Like This‘.
Stefan was GP – the Fairy GodParent and a different role to last year’s Beast. He too was very funny, and had a fantastic set of magical coloured light-up fingers which seemed to captivate the younger members of the audience around us.
One of the stand out routines in the show is The 12 Days of Christmas, something which is always a favourite in Swansea. This year it was next level good with Kev, Matt, Curtis and a member of the audience (possibly) joining in. It’s not often this happens but there were tears rolling down my cheeks at this point.
Dale – the member of the audience (possibly) was a pretty dab hand with the pies, which Curtis got a fair share of right in his face.
The script is really funny with it’s usual helping of local and contemporary references. The sign of a good script is if we engage with the characters, which we did, and of course if we also laugh in all the right places, which we most certainly did, there was also a few wrong places too, which is always the unpredictable joy of panto.
I can tell parents and guardians that you are completely safe here. This is most certainly a show for all the family with just the right amount of gags which will be appreciated by the older boys and girls n the audience.
In fact all of the audience got into the panto spirit with a very vocal booing for the stepsisters Whitney and Britney, played with a sassy swing by Ella and Sophie.
The show may look like it burst from the West End stage into South Wales, with all the hi-tech glamour and glitz you’ve come to expect, but with a fair helping of Welsh and plenty of local references, Cinderella feels like it belongs in Swansea. Add to that a cast who were born or live within a few miles of the theatre and you have the perfect blend of festive entertainment, in the heart of the community.
They get many things right at the Swansea Grand but there is something really special about the panto and this years certainly delivers one of the best ever. The audience couldn’t get enough, and everyone, from the young to the very young at heart were completely hooked from start to finish.
If you’re looking for a magical start to your Christmas celebrations, Cinderella should be high on your Santa wish list.
CINDERELLA is at the Swansea Grand through to Sunday 7th January 2024. Tickets are selling fast for everyone’s favourite rags to riches tale. For more details, and to book yours, go HERE.
