CASTING & CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE’S PANTOMIME CINDERELLA

The fairy godmother of panto returns! The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre today announces the full cast and creative team for its highly anticipated production of Cinderella, running 18 November 2023 to 06 January 2024.

The first images are also released of Tilly La Belle Yengo as Cinderella in this magical new adaptation by award-winning comedian, writer and composer Vikki Stone who returns after winning Best Script at The British Panto Awards for Aladdin in 2021 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Cinderella is directed by Tonderai Munyevu who is the co-artistic director of Two Gents Productions and currently performing in As You Like It at The Globe.

Returning to the Lyric stage after critically acclaimed appearances in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022 are Emmanuel Akwafo playing Lady Jelly-Bottom and Jodie Jacobs who will play the Fairy. Joining them and Tilly La Belle Yengo are Charlie Cameron playing Muffy, Damien James playing Prince Henry, Meghan Treadway playing Gusset and Maya De Faria, Jerome Lincoln, and the Lyric’s SPRINGBOARD trainee Bella Macdonald in the Ensemble.

The Lyric’s pantomime stormed West London in 2008 with Jack and the Beanstalk and since then the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre has entertained over 330,000 people at its annual pantomime. For the Lyric panto’s 15th year, Cinderella is back bigger and better than ever before.

Further festivities at the Lyric continue with the return of critically acclaimed Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, adapted by Pins and Needles running from Wednesday 22 November to Saturday 30 December. Directed by Emma Earle, the production is filled with live music and puppetry and is perfect for under 6-year-olds and their families.

Internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter, Joe Stilgoe, also returns to the Lyric for two nights only on 11 and 18 December for a night of festive jazz and a Christmas party to remember. Expect special guests, gospel choirs, brass bands and singalongs.

Vikki Stone, Writer (Cinderella) said:
“There’s something uniquely special about the Lyric panto. It’s hard to put into words exactly what it is, but there’s just something about the alchemy of talent and fun in this building in particular, that makes this one of the coolest pantos in the country.”

Tonderai Munyevu, Director (Cinderella) said:
“I cannot wait to bring Cinderella to West London this Christmas. Vikki Stone has outdone herself with this show which takes centre stage in Hammersmith. It is very cheeky, it’s very magical, and it’s definitely very poptastic! This Cinderella is hilarious and exhilarating festive fun for all the family. We have an exceptional cast ready to dance, sing and make you laugh out loud in the aisles this Christmastime. This will be an unforgettable pitch perfect panto of your dreams!”

Rachel O’Riordan, Artistic Director and CEO of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said:
“The Lyric Panto is tradition for many audiences in West London and beyond and we couldn’t be prouder to produce a brand new iteration of a much-loved story, Cinderella, by Vikki Stone. Our pantomimes are made right here in Hammersmith, with the glorious costumes being stitched and sequined in our wardrobe department. The Lyric Panto is part of our West London DNA – since before the Second World War we have celebrated the joyful and anarchic art of panto; and this year we celebrate 15 years of a reinvigorated version of this traditional art form. We couldn’t be more excited to share this 15th anniversary production with our audience.”

CINDERELLA
Written by Vikki Stone
Directed by Tonderai Munyevu

Saturday 18 November 2023 – Saturday 06 January 2024
Press night: Saturday 25 November

Set and Costume Designer: Good Teeth; Choreographer: Arielle Smith; Lighting Designer: Ciarán Cunningham; Composer and Arranger: Corin Buckeridge; Sound Designer: Nick Manning; Musical Director: Adam Gerber; Casting Director: Sophie Parrott CDG; Assistant Director: Mo Korede.

The Cast includes: Emmanuel Akwafo playing Lady Jelly Bottom, Charlie Cameron playing Muffy, Maya De Faria in the Ensemble, Jodie Jacobs playing the Fairy, Damien James playing Prince Henry, Tilly La Belle Yengo playing Cinderella, Jerome Lincoln in the Ensemble, Bella Macdonald in the Ensemble, and Meghan Treadway playing Gusset.

Musical Direction/Keys: Adam Gerber; Drums/Percussion: Greg Pringle; Bass Guitar: Nixon Rosembert; Guitars: Amy Shaw.

“In this brand-new show, the Queen of Panto herself, award-winning writer and composer Vikki Stone brings her outrageous adaptation of Cinderella, full to the brim with sass and magic, rip-roaring comedy, live music and chart-topping hits, directed by Tonderai Munyevu.

Cinderella is a bonafide boss-lady who runs her own business at Shepherd’s Bush Market. One day the most handsome Prince Henry, who dreams of a life less spare, wears a disguise to the Market and falls instantly in love with Cinderella. With the paparazzi in hot pursuit the Prince is forced to flee. And so begins the quest to unite the unlikeliest of likely romances, Cinderella and the hapless Prince. But will Cinderella’s step-sisters Muffy and Gusset and step-mother Lady Jelly Bottom get in the way of their happily ever after? Of course they will, it’s panto.

So get ready to go to the ball, because this Prince is throwing one hell of a party in Hammersmith and everyone is invited!

The Lyric Panto is an unmissable Christmas essential, get your tickets early as prices increase with demand.”

Biographies

Vikki Stone is an award-winning writer, composer, comedian and musician.
Writing credits include: co-adapter, writer and music supervisor for the Olivier Nominated Hey Duggee Live, #zoologicalsociety for Royal & Derngate, Cinderella & Aladdin for The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Alice In Wonderland (music and lyrics) for the Liverpool Playhouse, Peter Pan (music and lyrics) for Rose Theatre Kingston, Dick Whittington for the New Wolsey Theatre, Ten Pieces Special Report for BAFTA Nominated children’s music series BBC Ten Pieces, Our Girls Our Game for The British Youth Music Theatre.
Vikki made history when she was the musical director, pianist and band leader of the Saturday night ITV prime-time show Romeo and Duet, making her the first on-screen female musical director of a primetime entertainment show in the UK.
Other TV appearances include: BBC Proms coverage for BBC Four, Romeo and Duet, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Celebrity Pointless, The Dog Ate My Homework, The John Bishop Show, Partners in Rhyme and the BAFTA award-winning Ten Pieces for BBC.
As a composer, classical works include: The Thing That Matters, a massed choral piece commissioned by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and The Concerto for Comedian and Orchestra which premiered at Glastonbury Festival.

Tonderai Munyevu is an actor, writer and director for stage, screen and radio. Amongst his many critically acclaimed performances as an actor are Two Gentlemen Of Verona or Vakomana vaviri veZimbabwe (Two Gents/Shakespeare’s Globe), Sizwe Banzi Is Dead at the Young Vic (and tour) and Black Men Walking at the Royal Court (and tour) and his role as Peter in the film Something Nice From London (Latimer Films), he is the co-artistic director of Two Gents Productions. Writing includes Mansfield Park (The Watermill); Mugabe, My Dad and Me (Brixton House, York Theatre Royal/ETT); The Moors (Tara Arts Theatre/Two Gents Productions); Harare Files: How 700,000 People Lost Their Homes (written with Sarah Norman); Zhe [noun] Undefined (written with Antonia Kemi Coker and Chuck Mike); the short radio play A Tranquil Mind (BBC Radio 4) Blaccine: First Dose for Pitlochry Theatre Festival and various prose including The Visiting Hours; A Dispatch From Zimbabwe (Johannesburg Book of Reviews), Bullets (Team Angelica) and On James Baldwin (Queer Bible). As a director Tonderai has directed for Talawa, Central School of Speech and Drama, Tara Arts and Watermill Theatre. Mugabe, My Dad and Me won Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards 2022 and was shortlisted for The Alfred Fagon Award 2019. Tonderai is an Associate Artist at tiata fahodzi. He has been part of the Hightide’s “The Lighthouse” Writers Group, he has received the Peggy Ramsay Foundation Grant and is currently one of the Stockroom writers, a collective of theatre creatives working in-house at Stockroom in a writers room for theatre. Tonderai is currently under commission to Hampstead Theatre and the RSC.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOLS
In conjunction with the run of Cinderella, the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is offering Education Workshops throughout November – December for students aged 11 – 14. Teachers can bring students to the Lyric to take part in a two-hour session comprising of a Panto acting workshop, theatre tour and set/costume design talk. To enquire email [email protected]

FESTIVE LISTINGS
RAYMOND BRIGGS’ FATHER CHRISTMAS
22 November – 30 December
Performance schedule: For full listings see https://lyric.co.uk/shows/father-christmas-2023/
Relaxed Performances: Tuesday 28 November, 10.30am and Sunday 03 December, 9.30am
Audio Described Performance: Thursday 07 December, 9.45am
BSL Performance: Saturday 02 December, 4.30pm

CINDERELLA
18 November 2023 – 06 January 2024
Press Day: Saturday 25 November
Performance schedule: For full listings see https://lyric.co.uk/shows/cinderella2023/
Relaxed Performance: Tuesday 05 December, 10am
Open Captioned Performance: Wednesday 20 December, 6pm
Audio Described Performance: Thursday 14 December, 7pm
BSL Performance: Wednesday 27 December, 2pm

JOE STILGOE’S CHRISTMAS AT THE LYRIC
11 & 18 December 2023
Performance schedule: For full listings see https://lyric.co.uk/shows/joe-stilgoes-christmas-at-the-lyric/

LYRIC BAR AND VENUE HIRE
The festive spirit extends all over the building with plenty of ticket and catering packages to suit all budgets, including pre-show Christmas party packages.

We have a range of modern spaces to hire, and delicious menus including festive cocktails, sparkling receptions, mince pies and a glass of mulled wine or two. For Christmas party packages contact [email protected]

YOUNG LYRIC CLASSES
A range of FREE and low cost classes for all ages (0 to 25+) continue to be available this autumn including music, dance and theatre classes. Learn to pop and lock in DanceWest’s Hip Hop & Street Dance, explore performing in our Acting Up sessions, or explore music from around the world in Musiko Musika’s Songo Family Music Session.

As always, we offer bursary places for many of our classes – further details can be found on the specific class webpage.

Partners include: Action on Disability, Amici Dance Theatre Company, DanceWest, New English Ballet Theatre, Musiko Musika, Tri-borough Music Hub and Turtle Key Arts. https://lyric.co.uk/whats-on/classes