Cinderella

Christian Patterson

Theatr Clwyd production

Theatr Clwyd

November 27, 2025 - January 17, 2026; 2 hrs 20 mins

Rhianna Goodwin and Elliot Parchment-Morrison in Cinderella. All pics: company

Christian Patterson’s latest script for the theatre's annual "rock and roll" panto manages to combine more of the familiar jokes we have come to expect, as well as something fresh. 

There are familiar faces and routines, but added is a new-found cast energy, which works brilliantly to drive the team forwards. There is also a warmth and sense of anticipation from the audience, which responds enthusiastically to cast prompting and enters into the spirit of the panto.

Cinderella is of course a well known tale, and in some cases becomes a side event to the antics on stage.  Under the direction of Daniel Lloyd - a seasoned Theatr Clwyd panto campaigner - this production sticks faithfully to the story, apart from writing out the wicked stepmother, but includes plenty of set routines that keep the laughs rolling. In a departure from previous years there is much more emphasis on dance routines, which augment lots of live music. The choice of songs is neat; more often than not the lyrics illustrate the story nicely - for example, after Prince Charming first meets Cinderella. he sings the Police number, Everything Little Thing She Does is Magic.

Phylip Harries is once again excellent as the dame; his jokes may be well known, but his repartee charms the audience. Interestingly, despite being a stand-out performer, he doesn't dominate proceedings as much as he has in previous pantos. Quite often he remains a member of the backing group during musical numbers, and he shares a lot of banter with Steve Simmons as Dandini. Simmons is a good rock guitarist, who works well with Joe Butcher (King Benedict) on drums. There is a stark contrast between the sweet, forgiving Cinderella (Rhianna Goodwin) and the ferocious, snarling ugly sisters, (Celia Cruwys-Finnegan and Alice McKenna).

There is even time for some mild philosophising, making the point that a relationship should be a love match and not an arranged, duty-bound affair. How very modern... 

But this isn't any sort of reason to watch the show - which is the first since the completion of the theatre's multi-million-pound refurbishment and looks like a show put together by people glad to be back in their "home".

This Cinderella is a warm, fast-paced, enthusiastic edition of a timeless story that was hugely appreciated by a vocal audience and rightly received a standing ovation at the final curtain.

More info and tickets here