6 eggs-tremely good reasons to see Cinderella at St Helens Theatre Royal this Easter

Whether Cinderellas’ carriage will be created from an Easter egg instead of a pumpkin we can’t say, but what we can guarantee is a laugh a minute and more at St Helens Theatre Royal’s eggstra-ordinary Easter panto.

Directed by Chantelle Joseph – who’s in the Best Director final five at this weekend’s UK Pantomime Awards – Regal Entertainments’ spellbinding tale of Cinderella is on until Monday, April 21 at the St Helens Theatre Royal.

And if you’re hunting for ways to entertain the kids in the holidays, here’s 6 reasons why this should be one of them.

Cracking costumes

Costumes – and scenery – are rarely more spectacular than those at the Theatre Royal’s pantos, whether it’s the outrageous and hilarious outfits of characters like the Ugly Sisters – they dress as a Cornetto and a cup cake and are glittering chandeliers in the final wedding scene – or the bedazzling ballgowns and snazzy suits of our princes and princesses. Get your sunnies on – yes inside – because you’re about to be blinded by bling! Chantelle says: “We work so hard to create the costumes – even Cinders’ rags are beautiful!”

Eggs-citing music

Every panto’s lifted by – and loved for – its music, and in Cinderella you’re promised some golden oldies and all-time classics like How Do You Like Your Eggs in The Morning that gets everyone’s toes tapping, as well as top today tunes like Elton John and Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart. “You’ll never hear a boring ballad in a St Helens panto,” grins Chantelle. “Even when Buttons and the Fairy sing Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong, the Ugly Sisters turn it on its head with all sorts of comedy antics in the background.”

Cinderella. Credit: St Helens Theatre Royal / David Munn

Hoppy-ever-after storyline

Everybody knows the rags to riches tale of Cinderella, the beautiful girl who’s reduced to a life of drudgery by her two ugly step-sisters until an invitation to a grand ball at the palace arrives. With the wave of a magic wand and some help from her friend Buttons, Cinderella is transformed into the belle of the ball. It’s one of the best – and don’t we all love a happy ending?

Choc-k full of fun

From slapstick and stupidity to topical humour and very clever comedy, panto has it all for every age. And this version of Cinderella – back by popular demand – is a brilliant take on a familiar story. The Ugly Sisters are played brilliantly by resident dame Richard Aucott and, new to Theatre Royal, Liverpool drag queen Shania Pain. “They’ve partnered to perfection,” adds Chantelle.

Comedy and plenty of yolks – sorry jokes – with comic fave Lewis Devine

Supercharged Lewis Devine is always on top form and his performance as Buttons is a winner. The Liverpool actor and loveable laughter maker delivers a five-star performance with hi-energy, the best comic timing, and loads of giggles (some of them his when, in the fast-paced world of Pantoland, things don’t always go to plan!).

Corrie star Kimberly Hart-Simpson shines as Cinderella

Actress Kimberly set the cobbles a wobble as businesswoman Nicky Wheatley, and she wowed theatre audiences just as much as telly viewers when she last appeared at the Theatre Royal.

Chantelle Joseph says:

“Kimberly was a huge hit with when she played Cinderella three years ago, so I’m thrilled to have her back in the title role, and she’s joined by a wonderful cast of talented panto favourites.”