Cinderella
It’s all over, but the spirit of the panto will live happily ever after and in good shape with BROS Theatre Company’s fantastic contribution to this musical form.
A good panto will always look as though the performers just happened to end up onstage and start enjoying themselves with apparently little effort – but it can all so easily end up in shambolics.
Fortunately for the audience of Parkshot Studio Theatre, the week’s run of Cinderella was held together with wonderfully professional frivolity as opposed to frivolous amateurism. Congratulations to all involved!
Cast & Creative
Cast List
| Character | Actor |
| Cinderella | Tracy Sorgiovanni |
| Buttons | Tim Parish |
| Ugly Sister 1 | Edz Barrett |
| Ugly Sister 2 | Veronica Maidment |
| Wicked Step‐Mother | Lottie Walker |
| Prince Charming | Hannah Reynolds |
| Dandini | Diego Avila |
| Fairy God‐Mother | Beryl Yorath |
| Chorus | Andrea Charles |
| Chorus | Marc Evans |
| Chorus | Juliet Manners |
| Chorus | Helen Shore |
| Chorus | Claire Smith |
| Guest Performer | Bryan Cardus |
| Guest Performer | Andy Clarke |
| Guest Performer | Caroline Hayes |
| Guest Performer | Wesley Henderson Roe |
| Guest Performer | Lynne Shirley |
Creative Team
| Role | Name |
| Writer & Director | Loz Keal |
| Choreographer | Melanie Edwards |
| Musical Director | Kerry Sampson |
| Concept Design & Costumes | Zoe Harvey Lee |
| Costumes | Wendy Godwin |
| Production Manager | Clare Henderson-Roe |
| Stage Manager | Eric Williams |
| Lighting Designer | Barry Hudson |
| Set Design & Construction | Rob Arundel |
| The Band | Heather Williams |
| Front of House Manager | Alan O'Shea |
| Properties | Sian Walters |
| Box Office | Mark Burgess |
Reviews & Awards
Heather Morgan - Arts Richmond
Before Christmas we were treated to BROS’s version of Cinderella, wittily and saucily written and directed by Loz Keal at the Parkshot Studio. As befits this venue it was simply set. A huge picture book with pages to turn for each change of scene, enabled the production to zip along at a good fast pace. A small band was partially concealed behind the book, but we were fortunate to see musical director, Kerry Sampson, done up in costume, participating in the show in feisty fashion. Popular tunes were the vehicle for some entertaining lyrics
which were also the cue for energetic dance routines, choreographed by Melanie Edwards, performed by the small but beautifully formed chorus.
Tracy Sorgiovanni was a sweet and suitably demure Cinderella, encouraged by the low-key but heart-tugging Buttons of Tim Parish. The Ugly Sisters were truly ghastly, played by immensely tall Edz Barrett, his height enhanced by platform soles, high heels and a veritable Blackpool Tower of a wig! Edz’s more petite, but equally ghastly sister, played by Veronica Maidment contrasted well in more rounded, almost circular costumes. Well done wardrobe team! Completing the unlovely trio was Lottie Walker as wicked Step-Mother. She certainly
frightened me, and I saw several children in the front row quaking at the sight and sound of her.
Hannah Reynold’s thigh-slapping Prince Charming was, of course, charming but what can I say about his/her side-kick, Dandini? Diego Avila in this role was certainly a force to be reckoned with. His performance was quite manic and scene-stealing. More of Diego please!!
Again the kids in the front row were quite bemused by his up-front, literally in-yer-face performance. Finally, it was lovely to see Beryl Yorath’s dimples dimpling away as Fairy Godmother singing sweetly whilst performing her magic to sort everything out. There was obviously some competition to play the Footman, as five actors were credited in the programme. I don’t know who won the competition, but I have reason to believe it was pretty Keen. A great show to put us in a light-hearted mood during the hectic run-up to Christmas.
Thank you so much, BROS.
SWAN Awards
- Winner of SWAN Award Best Supporting Male Performer in a Musical – Diego Avila
- Nominated for SWAN Award Best Supporting Male Performer in a Musical – Edz Barrett