Cinderella, Festival Theatre Edinburgh Review
Photo by Douglas Robertson
Written by Jacqueline for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This week, Edinburgh’s Christmas theatre season has kicked off with a pumpkin, a prince and a magical glass slipper. Audiences are being treated to ‘the fairy godmother of all pantos’- Cinderella at the Festival Theatre. The renovation work at Edinburgh’s beloved Kings Theatre is well underway and we look forward to the panto eventually making its triumphant return to its home, but in the meantime, the Festival Theatre is more than a worthy host!
This year’s Cinderella follows the basic premise we all know and love. Poor Cinderella (Amber Sylvia Edwards) becomes a servant for her wicked stepmother, Baroness Hibernia Fortuna (pantomime legend Grant Stott) and stepsisters, Vindicta Fortuna (Clare Gray) and Manipulata Fortunata (Gail Watson). Cinderella longs to dance at the ball with Prince Charming (Will Callan), but will her dream come true? It certainly will, thanks to the help of her magical Godmother, Faerie May (pantomime royalty Allan Stewart), and best friend Buttons (Jordan Young). As always the cast exudes joy and festive cheer, whether they are a long-time staple of the Edinburgh panto scene or a newcomer making their debut. This two-and-a-half-hour-long production directed by Ed Curtis and Eilidh Gibson features a wealth of stunning costumes, hit songs, and theatrical magic.
As well as embracing local talent, the Edinburgh pantomime leans into incredibly niche local humour… for example an entire song dedicated to the Fort Kinnaird shopping centre, and numerous local football references. As someone who’s been attending the panto for many for several years now it’s fun to hear the local nods intertwined with the main plot line, ensuring an enjoyable experience is had by all. After all, the laughter, cheers and audience participation are truly at the heart of pantomime as an art form.
Crossroads Pantomimes are behind many of the biggest pantomimes in the UK and have become known for their extensive sets, costumes and special effects. There were even some very unexpected guest stars at the end of Cinderella’s first act but I wouldn’t want to spoil that! As Edinburgh audiences have come to expect, this year the pantomime set design by Ian Westbrook was at the same high-level as previous years. The costume design by Teresa Nalton, Ron Briggs and Mike Coltman was a glittering extravaganza, right down to every ensemble accessory.
The show incorporates a huge range of music, with many of the numbers being based on songs from the 2018 Broadway musical and 2020 Netflix movie “The Prom”, which was a pleasant surprise! Artists such as Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and The Proclaimers also feature, ensuring there is truly something for everyone to be humming as they leave the theatre. Having said that, I did find that the sound quality where I was sitting in the dress circle was inconsistent at times, and there were several points where it was tricky to hear what words were being spoken over the music.
For many generations, seeing a pantomime has become a cornerstone of the festive season. It is truly wonderful to see families bringing their children to the shows knowing that these young audience members will likely be the theatre makers of tomorrow. Cinderella is truly a mountain of festive joy wrapped up in a sparkly bow.
If you're watching Cinderella, please be aware that this production contains haze, flashing lights and loud noises throughout.
Cinderella runs at the Festival Theatre until 31 December 2024
★★★★★
