Cinderella is often seen as the ultimate pantomime. It’s the love story of a beautiful heroine and a charming prince; there’s a fairy godmother, comedy, romance, and baddies to boo, plus you get double the Dames with the Ugly Sisters.
Team B’s production at Leiston Film Theatre kept all the elements of the traditional story and packed the show with loads of gags for children and adults alike. It’s a very clever script that can deliver something for everyone and tuck in those saucier jokes that will go over the kid’s heads and all credit to writer and director Wayne Burns for doing that.
It’s a great ensemble cast and everyone works together as a team. We get double the fairy fun with Sky Henson as the Panto Fairy and Vici Hadfield as the Fairy Godmother; Grace Clutterbuck as Dandini and Matt Piercey as Prince Charming make a great duo and Noleen Skudder gives us all a chance to boo loudly as the evil Baroness Hard Up. The Chloe Kinrade School of Dance provide a super colourful chorus of wonderful dancers. I especially loved their teal-coloured outfits and in fact, the whole set and costumes were so bright and cheerful, it really took you away from a cold, grey January day and into another world.
Lauren Major is a fun and delightful Cinderella with a lovely singing voice and she has a great rapport with a firm favourite of the audience Wayne Burns as Baron Hard Up, who provides much of the comedy. There’s one particular joke that he spent the whole show setting up and it was worth the wait when it came at the end of the show.
We also had double trouble with the Ugly Sisters, a pair of classic pantomime dames with Marcus Ward as Viagra Detox and Patrick Norman as Niagara Detox in fabulous costumes and camping up for the audience with great relish.
My absolute favourite cast member was Toby Young as Buttons, an extremely talented young man as a comedy actor, singer and musician. His version of the Bruno Mars song Count On Me on the ukulele was beautiful and he had a smashing rapport with the audience.
Team B Productions put on a genuinely professional production that attracts packed audiences of families of all ages and Leiston should be incredibly proud of their panto.
Tickets for Mother Goose – the 2026 Team B panto are on sale now and going quickly so get booking now – call the box office on 01728 830549 or book online at the Leiston Film Theatre Website
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