Cinderella features the Orchard Theatre’s hallmark of outstanding entertainment for theatregoers of all ages
The stars of this year’s must-see Orchard Theatre pantomime have proved it’s never too early to prepare for the Royal Ball by getting into the festive spirit to launch this year’s show, Cinderella.
Louie Spence (Dandini) and Michelle Collins (the Wicked Stepmother) were joined by Jayne Wisener (Cinderella) and Luke Kelly (Prince Charming) at nearby Acacia Hall, Dartford, to bring some early festive cheer to proceedings.
Television personality, presenter and choreographer Spence pirouetted into the nation’s consciousness thanks to TV shows Pineapple Dance Studios and Louie Spence’s Showbusiness. He has also enjoyed an extensive stage career appearing in Miss Saigon and Cats and danced alongside Take That and the Spice Girls. He will play The prince’s loyal manservant, Dandini.
Collins made her television debut alongside Gary Oldman in Morgan’s Boy before going on to appear in numerous primetime programmes including Real Women, Sunburn, The Sleeper, Two Thousand Acres of Sky, The Illustrated Mum and Doctor Who.
She also appeared in the feature films Personal Services, Empire State and Stephen Poliakoff’s Hidden City – as well as playing Cindy Beale in EastEnders.
Since leaving EastEnders she swapped the Queen Vic for a different pub, to take up her role as Stella Rice, landlady of Coronation Street’s Rovers Return. She has also appeared in Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders.
Wisener made her professional screen debut as Johanna opposite Johnny Depp in the Tim Burton musical adaptation of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at just 19.
Following her graduation from the Scottish Royal Academy of Music and Drama she made her professional stage debut in Parade at the Donmar Warehouse, appeared in Channel 4’s comedy The Inbetweeners, The Secret Garden at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and in numerous pantomimes, including the role of Cinderella last year in Belfast.
Kelly reprises his role as Prince Charming, having already starred opposite Spence in Cinderella at Wycombe Swan in 2016.
His theatre credits include I Went to a Fabulous Party, Ten Steps to Heaven, She Loves Me, Back To Broadway, Babes In Arms, Kiss Me, Kate, Curtains and Whistle Down The Wind.
Cinderella is staged by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, which was behind the theatre’s previous record-breaking productions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dick Whittington.
Cinderella; The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford; Saturday, December 9 to Sunday, December 31.
Visit http://www.orchardtheatre.co.uk/online/kent-pantomime or call 01322 220 000.
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