This festive season, audiences are invited to a magical ball as National Trust’s historic East Riddlesden Hall is transformed for the brand-new show Cinderella: An Immersive Pantomime Experience. Set within the beautiful 17th-century house and grounds, Electric Press Productions has announced the cast who will take audiences on a journey through the beloved fairytale.
Bringing some fairytale magic to this year’s pantomime, Meg Kent (Look To The Light, Amazon Prime; Our House, Bridewell Theatre) will play Cinderella, alongside acclaimed Irish drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 7 runner-up Elle Vosque, who will take on the role of the guiding fairy godmother Peggy.
JJ Broadbent will make his professional debut as Prince Max, joined by step-sister duo Sophie Hygate as Paige and Kemi Stewart as Kitty, who will also make their professional debuts. Nigel Fyfe (Shadowlands, Aldwych Theatre; Love’s Labour’s Lost, Rosemary Branch Theatre) will take the throne as the King, while Jonny Mills (Hare and Tortoise, UK and US tour; Hay!, UK tour) will take to the stage as Prince Max’s witty wingman Dandini. Laura Judge (Footballers Wives, Edinburgh Fringe; Two, UK tour) will bring some wicked charm to the role of evil stepmother Bev.
Completing the cast are Aimee Sanderson-Bates and Joshua George, who will make their professional debuts as Swings, alongside Hannah Day (I’m Autistic – A New Musical, The Other Palace) as Ensemble.
Created by the award-nominated female duo behind Electric Press, Samantha Creswick and Emily Susanne Lloyd, and written by Calum Finlay, Cinderella: An Immersive Pantomime Experience blends live music, larger-than-life characters and festive magic, all uniquely shaped by its historic setting.
Set in the world of the classic fairytale, Cinderella follows a young woman dreaming of escape from life with her stepfamily and a chance to share her voice with the world. When the kind-hearted Prince Max hears her sing at the village Yuletide Fayre, he is captivated and announces a grand ball at the Royal Palace to find her.
But when midnight strikes, Cinderella refuses the traditional ending. Instead, she challenges expectation and invites Max to choose music, freedom and adventure over glass slippers and royal duty. Reimagining the fairytale for a new generation, the production is a bold celebration of self-expression, independence and defining happiness on your own terms.
YASS met Elle Vosque and we she revealed everything you need to kn
You’ve had such a whirlwind year going from a Belfast fashion student to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 7 runner-up! How has life changed for you since the show aired?
Life has been crazy since Series 7 aired! I’ve been able to take my drag to new heights and achieve so much this year. Since the show, I’ve been lucky enough to take part in three UK tours and perform at Pride events across the UK and Ireland. And the years still not over… closing the year with panto feels perfect!
Before stepping into Cinderella, you spent the start of this year in an adult pantomime (Beauty and the Beast). How does preparing for a family-friendly Christmas pantomime compare to doing adult panto?
This time around feels very different for me! When performing in adult panto, I was starring alongside three other Drag Race icons. It felt like the drag element was more of the focal point of the show, as audiences are typically coming to see the Queens.
With this production, I’m stepping into a family-friendly character in a much more controlled environment. Preparing for this, I feel more like a musical theatre actor than performing as my drag persona. There’s more illusion involved, which is very exciting!
What can audiences expect from your character, Peggy the Fairy Godmother, in this brand-new immersive Cinderella experience?
I am so excited to be playing the role of Peggy! She’s glam, witty and camp, but of course, very kind and caring. I think the Fairy Godmother role is so me to begin with, but I’ve been given the reins to make an iconic, traditional character my own. I’m sure she’ll continue to develop as we get stuck into rehearsals! I’m a huge Disney fan, so I’ll definitely be channelling some classic Disney magic in my performance, while also injecting a lot of Drag. I also get to sing two fabulous songs, one of which is a Celine Dion song (iconic!).
Performing in a historic 17th-century National Trust venue like East Riddlesden Hall is quite unique! How does having the entire house and grounds as the stage change the vibe compared to a traditional theatre venue?
OMG, this is maybe the most exciting part! The fact that this is such a unique panto experience is what really sealed the deal and made me want to take on the role. The grounds at East Riddlesden Hall are absolutely gorgeous, and I know I’ll be feeling the fairytale fantasy in full force every night!
Many years ago, I was in a production of Spring Awakening at Riddel’s Warehouse in Belfast, and performing there felt magical and so specific to that show. I feel that this change of scenery for our production of Cinderella is going to make it a truly unique viewing experience for the audience, one they’ll remember forever!
You’ve brought so much energy to different stages—from the Drag Race runway to touring production shows. What is your favorite part about connecting with live audiences in pantomime?
Out of all the different kinds of gigs I do, the most unique audience is definitely a panto audience. For example, some audience members could be huge Drag Race superfans, while others might have absolutely no idea what Drag Race is!
Panto audiences are made up of people from all walks of life and of all ages. The one thing they all have in common is that they want to have a fun night out and a good laugh.
Panto audiences feel special because, for so many people, it comes with family traditions. There are lots of families and groups of friends who get together every year to see a pantomime. It’s amazing to be part of making their night out fabulous! Panto audiences are always ‘up for it’, which makes any performer’s job a dream!
Looking back at your time on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, what was the biggest lesson or takeaway that you brought into your post-show career?
The biggest lesson I learned was to trust my gut and always be myself. The times when I let go and ‘just go for it’ are always the times when I’m at my best. In my post-show career, I try to remind myself of this before every show!
Pantomime is such an iconic staple of British and Irish culture. Who were your own drag or panto inspirations growing up?
Growing up, I loved going to see pantomime. For me and my family, it was definitely a tradition to have a Christmas night out each year!
I remember seeing panto at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast when I was a kid, and now I actually work with the Queen who played the Dame in it every week (Trudy Scrumptious)!
I can’t talk about panto icons without mentioning Belfast’s local panto legend, the hilarious May McFetridge, from the Grand Opera House’s annual Christmas pantomime. She would make anyone want to go and see the panto every year!
I’d say my drag inspirations growing up all came from musical theatre leading ladies. Performing in musicals as a kid definitely helped connect all the dots and made me realise I could become a Drag Queen!
Christmas in a historic Yorkshire hall sounds magical! How do you plan to celebrate the festive season while running such a busy show schedule?
It will be a busy schedule, alright! I’m performing in Cinderella right up until the 23rd and travelling home for Christmas on Christmas Eve.
I’ll be living in Leeds during the run of the show, so I’m excited to see what Christmas in Leeds is like, with the markets, drag shows and everything else! As I’ll be in England, I’m also hoping to catch up with some of my Series 7 sisters over the festive period.
What do you hope your queer fans and family audiences take away when they step into Cinderella’s world at East Riddlesden Hall this Christmas?
I encourage all my queer fans to come and see this show! It’s so important to have queer representation in the arts, and pantomime is for everyone.
I want everyone who comes along to feel transported into Cinderella’s world for a couple of hours and forget about their worries and stresses. Having a magical night out at the panto is exactly what the doctor ordered this Christmas!
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