Nothing says Christmas quite like a panto! For some people, Christmas is about certain smells or images; for me, it’s Pantos. And judging by the English accents in the audience, I’m not alone. My daughter and I had been practising all week—by which I mean I would shout “he’s behind you!” or “oh no you didn’t!” at random intervals throughout the day. These were mostly met with side-eye, but let it never be said I arrive unprepared.
Jane Sherwood has done a magnificent job directing Yvette Wall’s pantomime. I’ll admit I wasn’t sure how Cinderella would fare in 2025. How do you keep the tradition of male performers playing the ugly stepsisters while still supporting the LGBTQIA+ community? I’m relieved to say they handled it beautifully, and Kevin Winder (Monsterosa) and Clayton van Dijk (Groteska) were fabulous.
The whole cast was outstanding. I have to give a special mention to Siobhan Fowler (Stella Starlet), whose performance as the Russian ballet mistress was perhaps a little too convincing—I had some unexpected ballet-school trauma flashbacks. As I flicked through the program after the show, I kept thinking, “Oh, they were great!” “She was fantastic!” “He was awesome!” and “How did I not realise she played the Fairy Godmother and Kimmy K?” The Evil Stepmother (Candice Preston) nailed the role, and Savage the Cat (Sarah Christiner) prompted a running commentary from my daughter: “Yeah, that’s not creepy…’ ‘Yeah, that’s not creepy at all.” I shouldn’t have started listing cast members, because truly, they were all amazing—and I’m already over my review word count.
This version of the classic story gives Cinderella a playful modern twist. She’s still bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters, still hidden away doing chores—but instead of a ball, the kingdom hosts a talent show riffing off a certain international competition. The laughter was plentiful, and the “talent” was… well, enthusiastic. What the stepsisters lacked in pitch, they made up for in volume and enthusiasm.
The set design was clever, allowing for quick, effective scene changes—and for anyone still confused, a screen announced exactly where we were, which gave us a giggle.
I’m both glad and slightly devastated that I didn’t receive the program until after the show. The cast look so different out of costume (credit to the costume designer!), and seeing those photos felt like discovering a magician’s secrets. But I do wish I’d read the “feel free to sing along” note beforehand. The songs were so catchy, and I’m sure my daughter and I weren’t the only ones sitting politely when we would’ve happily joined in. So if you’re reading this before seeing the show: you have permission to sing.
If you’ve never been to a panto, here are a few essentials. Audience participation is mandatory. Be ready to boo, hiss, meow (ok, that one is specific to this panto), shout “oh no you didn’t!” and “he’s behind you!”, and generally let loose. You’ll need to know Three Blind Mice and you will need to get up and do the Twist. When the invitation came, my daughter whispered, “Do we have to get up?” and apparently my “Yes—if a child asks you to dance, you dance!” was loud enough that six nearby adults stood up immediately. I stand by it.
Roxy Lane Theatre was filled with wonderful people. From the warm welcome from Chairperson, Kristen, at the door, to the man at the bar hyping everyone up and explaining panto traditions, to the volunteer rushing around stacking extra chairs so kids could see – this was community theatre at its finest. Everyone worked together to make it magical.
Well done to everyone involved. I normally don’t start Christmas activities until the 1st of December, but you helped us kick off our advent adventures a little early this year. Thanks for reminding us of the joy.
To book tickets to Cinderella With A Twist, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/roxylanetheatre/.
