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Cinderella

Author: Helen Abraham

Information

Date
20th December 2024
Society
In Your Face Theatre (Seaham)
Venue
Seaham Town Hall
Type of Production
Pantomime
Director
Charlie Younger
Choreographer
Charlie Younger & Stephanie Peacock
Written By
Reece Sibbald

Panto season continued with a trip down the road to In Your Face Theatre |Seaham (IYFTS) and their annual community pantomime “Cinderella”.  You always do have a high expectation of IYFTS, their performances are always of a very high calibre and the pantomime this year was of no exception.

The production team did a superb job with Charlie Younger directing and choreographing with Stephanie Peacock, and sound and light delivered by Duncan Baxter of East Durham Audio and Paul Oliver of POSS productions respectively.  All did an incredible job with the pace and delivery maintained, excellent sound quality and effects, appropriate professional lighting in a difficult venue and lovely “twinkly” lights setting the scene for the festive season.

We’re all familiar with the story of Cinderella, and writer Reece Sibbald delivered another excellent well paced script with a twist.  It was a lovely performance and despite not being a pantomime fan generally I thoroughly enjoyed myself thanks to an incredible cast.  I found myself in stitches laughing repeatedly, loved the local references and the jokes were appropriate and well places with great audience engagement.  Choreography was very well rehearsed, delivered well and the dancers had beaming smiles on their faces throughout which makes all the difference.  Costuming was excellent with lovely bright colours giving a very polished production indeed, even with a slick makeover and dress reveal live on stage.  Great use of the space was made, especially with a full sleigh and reindeer making an appearance!

It was really difficult for this performance to really single out any one member of the cast for an exceptional performance as they all were absolutely incredible and well matched with one another.  Emma Conroy was a beautiful and clear Cinderella, David Jackson was an excellent Fairy Godmother, the “fairy in a frock”, Peter Baker as always consistently excels as Buttons, this year assisted with an equally incredible and versatile Nathan Johnson as Dandini, Shaun Crosby was a hilarious satirical Prince Charming (I’m still not over the hair and teeth, I must have laughed for 5 minutes straight!) and Jon Isbell was the voice of the narrator, recorded I understand from his hospital bed due to illness – get well soon Jon!

Dancers Amelia Barton, Abby Bell, Lexi Neasham, Evie Thompson and Romy Wilkinson performed with beaming smiles which always make the difference with supporting ensemble Joel Oakley and Lucy Stephenson.  Well done all of you – brilliant!

However stealing the show somewhat and utterly incredible were Hollie Wilson and Chloe Marks as the ugly sisters “Verruca” and “Wart”.  I’m presuming the costume and make up memo was “90s chav” and they were absolutely fabulous.  Full of energy as soon as they stepped on stage, completely memorable and that was just Hollie’s orange make up!  Really brilliant performances ladies, proud of you, really excellent. I hope Verruca and Wart’s alternate careers as NHS heroes will serve them well.

The comic timing of Buttons and Dandini was excellent with Peter and Nathan naturally keeping the pace and audiences entertained naturally bouncing off each other with their ridiculousness.

The two mega mixes at the ball and Christmas finale were hilarious, well mixed and meant the audience never got that feeling of being tired of one song when they were being fired at us left right and centre.  I also loved that Hollie interpreted the Christmas mega mix to BSL, inclusive and superbly talented, a beautiful touch I loved.

12 days of Christmas was the usual crazy, with Dandini soaking the audience and fast paced hilarity throughout and a “Big Ball Challenge” which is always an audience favourite.

All in all – IYFTS have smashed it yet again with their Christmas pantomime!  See you all again very soon!

 

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