IT may only be September, but pantomime season is just around the corner and Oldham Coliseum Theatre has a great show lined up for all the family.
The theatre has a fantastic cast of old friends and new for this year’s spectacular ‘Cinderella’ to put that extra sparkle into Christmas in Oldham.
Cinderella will be played by Shorelle Hepkin, who returns to Oldham for her second pantomime, following a rip-roaring performance as Alice in 2017’s ‘Dick Whittington’.
Playing the Wicked Stepmother is Coliseum favourite Sue Devaney, best known for her roles in Victoria Wood‘s ‘Dinnerladies’ and BBC’s ‘Casualty’.
Known for his high energy performances and audience involvement, Richard J Fletcher returns for his tenth Christmas at the Coliseum.
This year he will be playing Buttons, a servant of the Baron who is secretly in love with Cinderella.
And there will be double the fun with not one but two pantomime dames on stage as Fine Time Fontayne and Simeon Truby will star as the Ugly Sisters.
Fine Time Fontayne has been the Coliseum’s beloved Pantomime Dame since 2008 and has lit up Oldham’s historic stage in previous productions of Mother Goose, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
Simeon Truby was the theatre’s hero of the hour in 2016 when he triumphantly stepped into the role of the Dame at short notice after Fine Time broke his ankle two weeks before the show opened.
Fine Time is also the co-writer of the theatre’s annual pantomime, alongside the theatre’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Kevin Shaw.
Treading the Coliseum’s boards for the first time this Christmas the theatre welcomes John Afzal, who will be playing the Baron, Cbeebies presenter Nisha Anil, who will be adding a touch of magic as the Fairy/Dandini, and Chante Faucher, who will be playing Prince Charming.
Traditionally, Cinderella follows the story of an orphaned girl left in the care of her wicked step-mother and two ugly step-sisters, who treat her as their slave until she is visited by a fairy godmother who allows her to go the ball with Prince Charming.
Midnight brings an end to the spell but she leaves her slipper behind – the Prince sets out to find its owner, eventually reuniting with Cinderella and ending happily ever after with their marriage.
The Coliseum’s traditional pantomime has been entertaining families of Oldham and beyond for generations.
Each year the theatre serves up the perfect panto recipe of excellent actors, singers and dancers dishing out the very best in traditional fun that’s great for kids and not-so-grown-up grown-ups.
Add some music, songs and slapstick, plus a sprinkling of fairy dust for the perfect Christmas celebration.
‘Cinderella’ runs at Oldham Coliseum Theatre from Saturday, November 10 to Saturday, January 12. Tickets can be booked by calling the Box Office on 0161 624 2829 or online at www.coliseum.org.uk
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