Christmas is coming… (sort of)
Casting announced for the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s annual pantomime, Cinderella.
Today, we announce the cast for this year’s panto, Cinderella – with Timmika Ramsay in the title role.
Alongside Timmika, who’s role as Cinderella marks her Lyric and Panto debut, Shobna Gulati will play Madame Meanie. Shobna is best known for playing Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street and Anita in dinnerladies – she has also presented Loose Women.
Rhys Taylor who’s recent work includes Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Union Theatre, will play the role of Fairy Fredbare, whilst Cinderella’s step-sisters will be played by Mairi Barclay (Topsy) and Lauren Samuels (Popsy).
Jodie Jacobs (Buttons) returns to the Lyric stage after playing Bow Belles in Dick Whittington last year.
The panto will be directed by Tinuke Craig and written by the returning Jude Christian, co-writer and director of last year’s panto, Dick Whittington. Expect a mix of live music, bonkers characters, awesome adventures, singing, dancing, good guys, bad guys (behind you!) and dreams of astrophysical quantum accelecommunicatian.
As part of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s commitment to nurturing young talent, the main cast will be joined by an ensemble of young performers: Jon Alderson, Bradley Bryant, Melanie Joyce-Ashurst, Jessica Manu, Carla Reid and Rachel Shobande.
The pantomime has launched many new careers through the Panto Ensemble, a group of young performers given training and the experience of taking to the stage to perform, many in their first paid professional roles. Previous Ensemble members have included Nathan Byron who has appeared in Benidorm, Krystal Dockery who after the ensemble went on to play the title role in Cinderella at the Lyric, Karl Queensborough who played the title role in Aladdin at the Lyric in 2016, and Jamael Westman who played the title role in Hamilton in the West End.
Designed by Frankie Bradshaw, lighting by Joshua Pharo, Composed & Arranged by Corin Buckeridge, Sound by Lorna Munden, Choreography by Shelly Maxwell, Musical Direction by Joanna Cichonska and Will Burton CDG.