King’s Head Theatre and Elphin Productions are thrilled to announce full casting for their first-ever family pantomime in their new 250-seat auditorium. Drag Race UK star Ella Vaday (Nick Collier) will star as Ugly Stepsister ‘Peckham’, while ITV’s Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream contestant Maddy Erzan-Essien takes on the role of Cinderella. In an extra special treat, Dame Judi Dench will lend her vocal talents as the show’s Narrator, marking a magical addition to the production.
Cinderella, running from 30 November to 5 January, promises to deliver everything you’d expect from a Christmas panto- hilarious slapstick, sensational songs, puppets from Little Angel Theatre, and plenty of audience participation. With a local twist, this production celebrates the rich history of Islington in an intimate and immersive setting.
Dame Judi Dench, Patron of Little Angel Theatre, will be joined by a host of other celebrity friends and theatre Patrons, who will lend their voices in recorded segments throughout the show. Additional star guests will be announced soon.
Ella Vaday, known from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and The Real Full Monty, will play one half of the Ugly Stepsister duo. Harry Curley, 2023 OFFIES Best Newcomer nominee, will play the other half as Dalston. Maddy Erzan-Essien (Memphis, Nine) stars as Cinderella, alongside Joseph Lukehurst (Dreamboats and Petticoats, Urinetown) as Prince Charming. Verity Kirk, Robert Rees, and Lucia Vinyard round out the cast as Dandini, Buttons, and Fairy Codmother, respectively.
The pantomime will be written and directed by Andrew Pollard, celebrated for his 15-year run as writer, director, and Dame at Greenwich Theatre. Pollard has twice won the OFFIE Award and was the 2023 British Panto Award-winner for Best Ugly Sister.
Executive Producer Sofi Berenger expressed her excitement about working with such a talented cast, particularly having Dame Judi Dench on board as Narrator.
Ella Vaday is an incredible talent, and with our commitment to LGBTQ+ representation, this production is a perfect fit for our stage. The whole team is thrilled to bring Andrew Pollard’s hilarious script to life, and we hope this marks the beginning of a new tradition in London’s pantomime scene."
Samantha Lane, Artistic Director of Little Angel Theatre, shared her excitement as well:
We’re absolutely thrilled that Little Angel Theatre’s incredible Patron, Dame Judi Dench, has lent her voice to Cinderella. It’s an absolute honour and adds an extra layer of magic to the production."
Tickets for Cinderella are now on sale, with both family-friendly and adults-only performances available. Further announcements about special guests and additional details about the adults-only version of the show will be made soon.
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