Cinderella

Cinderella returns to The Guild Lounge at Preston Guild Hall from Wednesday 16 to Thursday 31 December, a traditional family pantomime with a local twist. It's produced by Initiate Theatre Ltd, a Preston-based theatre and education company led by Artistic and Managing Director Andrew Sumner, who was named 'Arts & Culture Hero' at the inaugural 'Proud Preston' awards. The cast and creative team are drawn from Preston and the wider Lancashire area, so it's a production that stays close to home.

The story is the one you know: a young woman dreaming of escaping a dreary life with her wicked stepmother and ghastly stepsisters, with her Fairy Godmother helping her towards the Guild Hall Ball, where she searches for her Prince Charming. The Preston setting adds its own particular problems to the mix — will she make it home in time, or be left waiting for the last bus from Preston Bus Station? It's that local flavour that sets it apart from a standard production, with Preston-specific humour and plenty of audience participation to get the room involved.

Tegan Shaw plays Cinderella and Leon Norfolk takes on Prince Charming. The show fills the room with dazzling costumes, catchy songs, boos for the baddies and cheers for the heroine, and it's built for families to watch together. It runs from 16 to 31 December at The Guild Lounge, Preston Guild Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 1HT.

Tickets are £14-16 per child, £20-22 per adult, and £17.50-19.50 for concessions, with family tickets for four available.