Last Updated on 18 December 2024 by Colette
This post features a gifted experience & affiliate links
If you’re looking for a traditional panto this festive season, look no further than Manchester Opera House where you can watch Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters, and meets her Prince Charming with the help of her Fairy Godmother and a pumpkin – it’s a well-worn, well-loved story that we all know inside out making it the perfect pantomime.
Jason Manford takes to the Opera House stage once again this year playing Prince Charming aided and abetted by Ben Nickless as Buttons and Myra Dubois as Baroness Myra Fortuna (Cinderella’s wicked stepmother). They made a great team last year in Jack and the Beanstalk so we were pleased to see them back again!
From the moment the curtains go up, the glitz and glamour of the over the top costumes, the oversized scenery remind you that the production values of a panto at Manchester Opera House are next level – there is absolutely nothing basic about this pantomime! (Just wait till you see magic of the pumpkin carriage – Amy was entranced!)
Although we’ve done quite a bit over the last month or so reviewing various shows and Christmas activities, Cinderella at the Opera House is actually the only thing we’ve managed to do as a full family (such is Christmas with teens!) so I was really looking forward to the chance to share the experience together – all the more so as Dave hadn’t actually been to panto at the Opera House before!
Chloe started the evening feeling less than festive and not particularly thrilled with the world – to say she had a face like thunder would be something of an understatement and I honestly questioned if we’d have been better leaving her at home but within minutes of curtain up, she was swept up in the joy and silliness of the evening, laughing, shouting and singing along as if she had not a care in the world – this speaks volumes of the quality of performance and humour we were treated to.
This year’s production of Cinderella ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to pantomime (lots of audience interaction, the boos, the greetings for certain characters, shouts of “he’s behind you” and “oh no you won’t” – you know the drill) and definitely worked on the same formula as last year’s show (Hello audience Gary!) – but better. Last year I felt that the story of Jack and the Beanstalk was essentially just a vehicle for Ben and Jason to be as funny as possible but this year I felt that the story flowed more and we got more pantomime in that sense.
One of my friends commented that she didn’t love the panto as much last year as it felt a bit like “The Jason Manford Show” and I can totally see where she’s coming from – much like last year, Cinderella at Manchester Opera House absolutely gets its money’s worth from it’s three headline acts and as such, I would say if you don’t especially like Jason Manford, this isn’t the panto for you – however we found him thoroughly entertaining both during a short stand up routine as Jason himself and throughout the panto. Dave hasn’t seen Jason in panto before and his main takeaway was “Wow, I didn’t know he had that voice in him” and I remember feeling much the same when I saw him for the first time last year!
This year marks Ben Nickless’ 20th panto season and that level of experience shows – his physical comedy, comedic timing and many voices translate well to panto. Ben said Buttons was his favourite character – he loved the way Ben was able to switch from being really funny to more serious and emotional (however briefly!) The onstage chemistry between Jason Manford and Ben Nickless (now on their third panto together at Manchester Opera House) is next level – we especially loved a bit of a sing along with plenty of audience participation, some silliness and the chance for Ben to showcase just some of his incredible impressions.
Myra Dubois is just utterly fabulous – from her magnificent leopard print outfits (including sequin linings and the glitteriest red nails I’ve ever seen) to her banter with the audience, I couldn’t wait to see what was going to come out of her mouth next!
Wendy Mae Brown made for a gorgeous Fairy Godmother with humour and a beautiful voice, she carried the story along waving her (not very secure) magic wand and helping Prince Charming and Cinderella to find love.
Sarah Vaughan takes the title role in this year’s performance – and whilst Cinderella does take something of a backseat on stage compared to Buttons and Prince Charming, Sarah does a cracking job of both looking utterly gorgeous and being hilarious when the scene requires it!
And of course you can’t write about Cinderella without mentioning the Ugly Sisters – often played as panto dames, the Wicked Stepsisters play something of a supporting role to the Myra Dubois as the Wicked Stepmother in this version of Cinderella but that doesn’t make Liz Carney as Vindicta Fortuna and Chloe Chesworth as Manipulata Fortuna, any less brilliant in their roles! Chloe makes her professional debut at the Opera House this year (and what a way to do it) whereas Liz is a veteran of the Oldham Coliseum panto.
When I had asked Ben if he wanted to come with me to the panto at Manchester Opera House this year the answer was a resounding “Yes, I love panto!” I think he fell in love with panto all over again last year when the jokes just started hitting different and I absolutely love that, at 15, he’s still fully invested in this great British festive tradition! Amy, at 11, is now aware that she doesn’t get all of the jokes and said to me a few times last night, “I don’t get it”, I just laughed and said, “You’re not supposed to, it’s ok!”
We particularly loved some of the current affairs references but didn’t quite understand the point of the inclusion of Just Eat – it felt like some sort of bizarre product placement.
All in we had a cracking night at the Opera House Manchester and Ben said he really thinks that panto at the Opera House should be a new festive tradition for our family – and I’m inclined to agree!
Cinderella at Opera House Manchester runs from Saturday 14th December 2024 to Sunday 5th January 2025. You can book tickets for Cinderella at Opera House Manchester online now.
If you’re looking for parking near Manchester Opera House, you’ll find that here and you might find this list of the best restaurants near Manchester Opera House handy too!
Have a read of these posts next:
Christmas shows to watch in Manchester this year
Our guide to the theatre in Manchester
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