Reading’s pantomime is going hi-tech this year: an all-new digital set will enable audiences to experience the spectacle as never before … and when it comes to Cinderella, there will be fewer more spectacular moments than the moment our heroine becomes the belle of the ball.
The show opens at The Hexagon on Saturday, December 7, and continues through to Sunday, January 5.
Once again it stars CBeebies legend Justin Fletcher, Reading’s dame Paul Morse, and returning stars Bex Allingham, Rachel Delooze and Carl Tracey.
Newcomers Samantha Dorrance, Cassandra Lee, and Adam Pettigrew complete the cast.
The script is written by Justin, and will have the usual mixture of jokes, slapstick, audience interaction, songs and dancing.
As it has been since 2010, the show is produced for The Hexagon by Imagine Theatre, one of the biggest pantomime companies in the land. In that time they have received 20 nominations for the UK Pantomime Association Awards, winning five including Best Set and Best Pantomime (over 900 seats).
Run by Steve and Sarah Boden, the firm has been involved in 40 shows opening over the next few days, with venues including Inverness, Coventry, and Llandudno.
Panto lovers themselves, the pair know everything there is to know about every tradition, from which side of the stage the good and bad fairy enter from to how to ensure the messy slosh is just messy enough to be … well, messy, but not too messy that it creates a danger to the performers.
In fact, it’s fair to say it will be a long time before the duo say ‘It’s behind you!’ to their pantomime producing days.
Working all year round from a purpose-built facility in Coventry, they have built up one of the largest collections of pantomime costumes, sets, and scripts in the country.
But where did it all start?
“In the late 1990s, I worked at the Belgrade Theatre where Iain Lachlan and Will Brenton were creating traditional, wholesome rep style family pantomimes,” Steve explains.
“With fresh scenery and costumes each year, at the end of the season everything would be discarded, a huge waste.
“Iain, being a canny Scotsman with a big barn outside Banbury, decided to store the sets.
“He came to me and said, ‘I’ve got some panto scenery sitting in a barn. What should we do with it?’ so, we started hiring the sets out to other producers.
“Soon enough venues started asking, ‘These are really nice sets. Can you produce our pantos as well?’ And we thought, ‘Yeah, we can do that’.”
Read more: Discover the pantomimes and festive plays in and around Reading this Christmas
And Steve’s new career was the catalyst for his relationship with Sarah. They met at The Priory Theatre in Kenilworth back in 1999.
“I had a ‘normal’ job back then,” Sarah recalls.
“Steve was involved in the creative side of things, in theatre and pantos and our paths didn’t really cross much at first.
“I was performing, and he was behind the scenes. It wasn’t until later, after I returned from a job in Cambridge, that Steve cast me in a production of Nunsense, and the rest is history.
“We got married in 2002.”
And it was a match made in panto heaven as they complemented each other’s skills: Steve needed help with procurement contracts, and Sarah was able to step up and help out.
“It’s a great balance because we both understand and respect what the other brings to the table. It’s really been the foundation of Imagine’s growth – Natural and gradual,” Sarah says.
In 2009, they became the owners of the company and still work alongside Iain – who many will remember from Fingermouse and Play School – and Will on various products. The number of venues they produced pantomime for grew and last year, they teamed up with Trafalgar Entertainment. Steve and Sarah say this is a company who share a synergy with Imagine, not least as they are a family business, run by a husband-and-wife team, Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire.
Steve describes this partnership as “the perfect fit” and a natural step toward expansion and bringing even more joy to an even wider audience.
Over the next few weeks, their core team of 30 will grow to more than 500, with many returning year on year.
He believes the company’s ongoing success comes from their passion for pantomime, storytelling and dedication to family values:
“Family is central to everything we do. Not just in our own lives but it’s on the bones of our business too,” he explains.
“Our team, from cast to crew, are part of our extended family. Everyone feels a sense of ownership and belonging.”
Sarah adds: “We have built wonderful friendships over the years. When we walk into a venue, it’s wonderful to be greeted by familiar faces, even in our audiences.
“We are so lucky to work with such dedicated and talented people working in partnership with us, across the whole of the UK.”
But what is it like to be living and breathing pantomime every day of the year?
“It’s hard work,” Steve says.
“For us, panto is not just about Christmas; it’s a big operation that requires a huge amount of planning and logistics year-round.
“We have an extraordinarily dedicated team giving it 100% every day of the year. But we do it because we love it. It’s fun, a bit mad and often very silly.”
Sarah laughs: “We spend most of the year finding glitter everywhere. But we wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else by our sides.
“It’s an adventure, and though it can be exhausting, seeing families come together to enjoy the show is so rewarding and makes it all worthwhile.”
How can I see Cinderella at The Hexagon?
Imagine Theatre’s Cinderella will be performed at The Hexagon from Saturday, December 7, through to Sunday, January 5.
Performance times vary and some shows have already sold out.
There are relaxed performances, for people with additional needs or prefer a less ‘noisy’ experience. These are on Friday, December 13, and Friday, January 3, at 10.30am. These tickets cost £16.50.
There are two performances with sign language interpreters. These are planned for Saturday, December 14, at 1pm, and Friday, December 27, at 5pm.
Tickets cost from £13 for school groups.
Regular tickets are from £20 to £39, and there are group rates available.
Full details are available on the WhatsonReading.com website, or by calling the box office on 0118 960 6060.
Get Cheeselogs in your inbox!
Sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest posts, news and surprises. It's completely free, and goes straight to your inbox.
