ST HELENS Theatre Royal's Christmas Panto, Cinderella opens this weekend.
The show will see Coronation Street actor Kimberly Hart-Simpson is swapping the cobbles of soap land for title starring role along with a stellar cast.
Cinderella will run at St Helens Theatre Royal from Saturday 3 December 2022 to Sunday, January 8 2023. Tickets are are priced from £18.
Who is Kimberly Hart-Simpson
Best known for playing the role of Nicky Wheatley in the world’s longest running television soap opera, Kimberly is no stranger to St Helens.
Before she got her big break in Corrie, talented seamstress Kimberly worked behind the scenes in the costume departments of the Theatre Royal and Epstein Theatre, creating costumes for shows produced by Regal Entertainments Ltd.
Kimberly is excited to be stepping into the bright lights of the stage to play the lead role in Cinderella.
Kimberly explained: “I am absolutely thrilled to be in the cast of Cinderella at St Helens Theatre Royal this Christmas.
"I have such fond and happy memories working in wardrobe behind-the-scenes on costume and set with Regal Entertainments, that it’ll feel like a homecoming.
"I’m excited to see all those lovely, friendly faces again.
Jamie and Chuck
Kimberly leads the Cinderella cast alongside Britain’s Got Talent performers Jamie Leahey and puppet Chuck, and winner of BGT 2020, comedian and musician Jon Courtenay.
It’s a hometown show for teenager Jamie, who is from Rainford.
Together with his side-kick pal Chuck, they wowed the judges and audience with their excellent ventriloquist act. In June, they made it to the BGT Grand Final finishing runner-up.
Jamie and Chuck will appear as themselves as a speciality act in a limited number of appearances.
Meanwhile, Jon Courtenay is cast as Prince Charming’s right-hand man Dandini.
Jon was awarded the Golden Buzzer by Ant and Dec, going on to become the Judges’ Choice in the semi-finals before winning the entire contest – becoming the first Golden Buzzer act to take the BGT title.
Jon won the TV show in 2020, he recently completed his first UK Tour, and is set to take his new solo play Against The Odds to the Edinburgh Fringe this Summer.
Other cast confirmed are St Helens favourite Lewis Devine as Buttons, Joe Sleight as Prince Charming, Rachael Wood as Fairy Godmother, and Kristopher Bosch and Richard Aucott as the Ugly Sisters.
'One of our strongest casts to date'
Theatre Manager Chantelle Nolan added: “We are so excited to be opening our pantomime Cinderella this week, rehearsals are going brilliantly.
"This must be one of our strongest casts to date and one of our most exciting pantomimes, we can’t wait to get started and sales are already strong.
"Pantomime in St Helens is going from strength to strength and continues to be a really magical experience year on year for our loyal audience members and this year they are in for a treat.”
Cinderella promises audiences a magical Christmas panto complete with Fairy Godmother, glass slippers, enchanted pumpkin, ugly sisters, and a fantastic fairytale finale. The production also features real Shetland ponies on stage.
Due to Jamie’s age and licensing laws, he will appear in a limited number of performances.
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