Writer: Joe Tracini
Director: Andrew Lynford
Norwich Theatre Royal’s Christmas Pantomime returns with Cinderella, a production that delivers plenty of familiar panto charm. This year written by and featuring Joe Tracini, the show is a welcome and noticeable step up from the previous year, delivering a performance that feels brighter, bolder, and more cohesive than its predecessor. There’s a clear sense of increased investment onstage, both in production polish and in narrative flow, and it makes for a more satisfying festive outing.
As Cinderella, Georgia May Foote delivers a warm, charming performance, pairing an easy likeability with vocals that glide effortlessly through the score. Opposite her, Fairy Godmother Hannah-Jane Fox all but steals the spotlight: pitch-perfect vocals combine with sharp comedic timing to create one of the evening’s strongest turns.
The musical balance, however, occasionally falters. Several numbers suffer from a sound mix that leans too heavily into the band, with crescendos that swamp the singers and dialogue moments that struggle to cut through. It’s not constant, but when it happens, it pulls focus at precisely the moments where emotional clarity or comic delivery should land strongest.
Visually, Cinderella delivers exactly what audiences expect from their panto: unabashed colour, sparkle, and spectacle. The costumes are a riot of fun, and Cinderella’s ballgown, in particular, earns its rightful gasp from the auditorium as a true showstopper.
While the script may lack a single standout comedic moment, it compensates with a steady stream of knowing asides and audience engagement that keeps the energy lively. The traditional slapstick scene makes its annual appearance too, this time relocated to a laundrette. It’s enjoyable and neatly executed, though it never quite tips into the gloriously unhinged chaos that has, in previous years, lifted this sequence from crowd-pleasing to unforgettable.
Overall, Norwich’s Cinderella is a confident and colourful panto, elevated by solid performances and a clear creative vision. It may not break new ground comedically, but it charms, entertains, and sparkles—and at Christmastime, that’s more than enough magic to go around.
Runs Until: 4 January 2026
