The theatre has a great reputation for panto and this year's offering was no exception. Written and directed by Amanda Hall, she somehow seems to capture the magic of the traditional pantomime whilst keeping enough up to date references to keep both children and adults hugely entertained throughout.
The crux of traditional panto is that it relies on great acting and well-crafted production, rather than celebrity, elaborate sets and the all too common fake fluffed lines which seem to be doing the rounds nowadays. This rags to riches story had just the right amount of good old thigh slapping, booing and "it's behind you" to make it one of the finest in the city.
Laura Thurman opens the show in a puff of smoke and sparkle as the Fairy Godmother, complete with rhyming speeches and the cast launch into an uplifting version of I Gotta Feeling as we meet one of the cleaner looking but likeable Cinderellas I've seen in Panto beautifully played by Lauren Stephenson, her relationship with the prince, played by Hannah Rogers Gee is enduring and their harmonies tight. The pair having two of the strongest voices of the show.
Providing the Innuendo and OTT outfits are Micheal Pearson and Rob Goll as ugly sisters Susperia and Mellifluous. Sean Goodwin is the cheeky love struck Buttons, played with boundless energy and enthusiasm - popular with the female members of the audience, especially when joining them to give his own boy band style performance of One Directions Beautiful, he's a natural performer who leads the show.
The excellent, talented chorus are expertly choreographed by Amy Rogers Gee, and they dance their socks off throughout.
There's bucket loads of good old-fashioned audience participation throughout, corny jokes and local references. Cinders' frock turns magically into a glittering ball gown, snow falls from the sky and they all live happily ever after in Pantoland in a thoroughly festive family treat not to be missed.
Cinderella runs at Nottingham Arts Theatre until Sunday 20 December
Nottingham Arts Theatre website
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