Cinderella - Theatre Royal Bath pantomime

Star of BAFTA Award-winning Tracy Beaker and Strictly finalist DANI HARMER takes centre stage alongside Gavin & Stacey?s MELANIE WALTERS and Bath favourite JON MONIE in the Theatre Royal?s magical pantomime CINDERELLA this Christmas

Dani Harmer, one of the BBC’s biggest children’s TV stars, will play the titular role in this production of Cinderella this Christmas with Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters as Fairy Godmother, and local comedian Jon Monie as Buttons, in UK Productions’ glittering 2014 show, which will be at the Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 11^th December to Sunday 11^th January.

In this, the greatest pantomime of them all, Cinderella is treated as a slave by her ugly and nasty Stepsisters. This is why she needs all the magic her Fairy Godmother can gather, along with help from her best friend, Buttons, if she is to meet her Prince Charming, and find true love before the clock strikes midnight. With its magical story, hilarious comedy, extravagant settings and adorable miniature ponies, Cinderella is the ideal entertainment event for the festive season and this wonderful production will ensure that every family member has the time of their life.   

Dani Harmer is known to many, many children for the eponymous role in the BBC’s highly successful children’s series The Story of Tracy Beaker and its successor Tracy Beaker Returns, winner of the 2010 Children's BAFTA for Best Drama. Dani starred as Tracy Beaker from the age of twelve and played the character for six successful series, also receiving a BAFTA nomination for her performance in 2010. Her own hit CBBC show, Dani's House was nominated for a Children's BAFTA in 2009. During its final series, Tracy Beaker Returns received the highest ratings ever for the CBBC channel. 2012 saw Dani perform in BBC 1’s immensely popular ballroom dancing series Strictly Come Dancing reaching the final with her professional dance partner Vincent Simone. She also was part of the 2013 Strictly Come Dancing National Tour dancing with Pasha Kovalev. On stage, Dani started her acting career aged six. She performed in the West End musical Tommy, and the national tour of Annie. Dani has previously starred in the pantomimes Peter Pan, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Wizard of Oz.  She also starred in the 40^th Anniversary Tour of The Rocky Horror Show. 

Melanie Walters will make dreams come true as the Fairy Godmother this Christmas. While her most famous role on television was as Gwen West in BBC’s BAFTA award-winning series Gavin & Stacey, she also has numerous stage credits under her belt, ranging from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Sheridan’s The Rivals to Willy Russell’s Educating Rita and Blood Brothers. Her previous pantomime credits include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Her television work also includes Stella, The District Nurse, Dangerfield, Jack of Hearts, Casualty, Holby City, Belonging, Coronation Street, Being Human and The Bill.  Earlier this year, Melanie starred in a new BBC television adaptation marking the 60^th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood.

Jon Monie makes a triumphant return this Christmas playing Buttons, the servant of Baron Hardup, as his mischievous comedy and hilarious antics have made him a firm favourite with pantomime audiences in Bath, following performances at the Theatre Royal in all of the major pantomime titles. A comedian with accolades to his name and experienced television presenter, this summer Jon performed his acclaimed stand-up show Avent & Monie: Back to Front, alongside comedy partner Graham Avent, at The 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

David Ball and Byron Mondahl team up as two of the ugliest Ugly Sisters ever, as they reprise their acclaimed pantomime double act for the third time running for UK Productions. Byron Mondahl started his career in South Africa, before training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. A regular member of Bristol’s highly regarded Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory Company, he was last seen at the Theatre Royal Bath in 2007 as PC Pong in Aladdin. David Ball’s many stage credits include Cats, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and numerous pantomimes. He last performed at the Theatre Royal Bath as the Emperor in Aladdin in 2001. David also works across the UK as a director, choreographer and producer.

The experienced company of actors performing in Cinderella also features Owen Thompson as Prince Charming and Bobby Windebank as Dandini. The role of Baron Hardup is played by Richard Colson, who last performed at the Theatre Royal Bath in Dick Whittington in 2011.  Also performing in the Ensemble are Stuart Harris and Alessandro Lubrano. Once again this Christmas, the Theatre Royal welcomes back the talented young dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance, returning after numerous highly acclaimed performances.

Pantomime has always been an essential part of the programming mix in Bath. In November 1815, just ten years after the Theatre Royal opened, the famous Joseph Grimaldi played the clown in Mother Goose. It was the pantomimes produced by the Maddox family which really put Bath on the panto map when they took over the management in 1937. Set to thrill West Country audiences once again this Christmas, Martin Dodd’s UK Productions returns to the Theatre Royal for the seventeenth consecutive year to present Bath’s 2014 pantomime, Cinderella.

CINDERELLA will appear at the Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 11^th December 2014 to Sunday 11^th January 2015. To book contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 44884401225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk