As part of our Great Big Christmas Show Giveaway, Daily Info are giving away tickets to Cinderella at the Oxford Playhouse. We sat down with the creatives behind this show and see what they have in store for audiences this winter.
Daily Info: What does Oxford Playhouse have in store this Christmas?
Oxford Playhouse: As always, the Playhouse has a wonderful show for everyone aged 5 to 105, full of infectious laughter, brilliant storytelling, singing, dancing, cheering for the goodies and booing for the baddies! Cinderella the pantomime will be a celebration of the festive season – a glorious mix of the traditional and the new, with a generous helping of audience participation.
DI: For those who don’t know it, what’s Cinderella all about?
OP: The handsome but hapless Prince Charming has finally left university and come home to Oxland. He’s ready for his coronation but he’s looking for a wife. His ‘loyal’ deputy Dandina is there by his side, she but she has devilish plans. She’s determined to become Queen herself.
Meanwhile our feisty Cinderella is busy bringing justice and freedom to people browbeaten by Dandina’s outrageous tax on singing! If only her awful sisters would give her a break from running around after them day and night. Can the mysterious shape-shifting Fairy help our heroine to make sure that goodness wins through? A tale of true love, enduring friendship, midnight mysteries and magical transformations.
DI: Cinderella is a classic tale that will be familiar to a lot of people. How will this show update it for a modern audience?
OP: Panto from Oxford Playhouse always seeks to tell a familiar story in a brand-new way. We love a mix of the reassuringly familiar with a healthy dollop of the brand new. This year’s panto will have a few twists – we’ll definitely put Cinderella at the centre of her own story (no more passively hanging around waiting for a Prince to show up!), there’s a shape-shifting Fairy and a wonderful new villain in the shape of the evil Dandina for everyone to boo!
This year’s panto has been written by Anna Nicholson and Bobby Goulder with original music composed for the show by Bobby as well. Toby Hulse directs Oxford’s panto for the first time.
DI: When approaching a Christmas show what are the key things a production has to get right?
OP: Audiences want to enjoy the full tradition of panto, to join in the fun and come out on a high! Our job is to tell a heart-warming story, with bags of energy and oodles of fun.
DI: Sum up Cinderella in three words
OP: Magical
Laugh-out-loud-funny
An extravaganza of song and dance
Cinderella runs at the Oxford Playhouse from 25th November 2022 to 8th January 2023 and tickets can be found on their website.
Check out Daily Info's Great Big Chistmas Show Giveaway throughout November for the chance to win tickets to some of the best festive productions.
