Perth Theatre’s Cinderella is on track to be the most successful panto in Perth in recent years. With two weeks left until it closes, tickets are flying out the door for the traditional family pantomime with many performances sold out. Audiences of around 20,000 are predicted to see the production before Saturday 4 January – the most for any panto in the last ten years. There is still a chance for panto fans to see the critically acclaimed production as tickets remain for some shows, but customers are urged book their seats soon for what will be the last production in Perth Theatre before if closes for restoration and redevelopment.
Directed by Rachel O’Riordan, Alan McHugh’s version of the magical rags-to-riches tale sets the action in a theatre with Buttons as the eternal understudy and dogsbody, Cinderella’s evil stepmother as a theatre boss desperate to sell off the building and the Ugly Sisters Luvvie and Darling hamming it up as actors. Cinderella retreats to her attic in the wardrobe department where designer Becky Minto has drawn on the 114-year old venue’s rich heritage by creating a spectacular wall of up to 100 costumes created by Perth Theatre’s wardrobe department dating back over 60 years.
Rachel O’Riordan said:
“The theatre has a wealth of beautiful costumes dating back many years, many of which never see the light of day. Setting Cinderella in a theatre gave us the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of our fabulous creations both on set - in Cinderella's wardrobe scenes - and in the theatre's public spaces where we have a display of panto headdresses.”
The wall of costumes also conjures up memories of the many talented actors, designers and wardrobe staff who have cut their cloth in Perth Theatre – including actors Martyn James, Barrie Hunter, Edith MacArthur and Jimmy Chisholm, designers Charles Cusack-Smith, Ken Harrison and Edward Lipscombe, from productions including Little Foxes, Sinbad, The Barber of Seville, Dangerous Liaisons, Mother Goose and The Lady Killers.
Becky Minto said:
“I tried to choose costumes from as many different shows as possible to showcase the amazing variety of costumes that had been created here over the years. This gives a sense of showing what goes on in wardrobe and in fact in all the departments backstage to put on such a production. This was very important and poignant for Rachel and me. Finding an old waistcoat worn by Martyn James was an emotional moment and it has taken pride of place in the centre of the wall.”
Cinderella runs in Perth Theatre until Saturday 4 January. For tickets and information contact Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031 click here.