Elphin Productions, King’s Head Theatre and Little Angel Theatre in association with the Angels of Angel bring you Cinderella - a fully fabulous North London pantomime experience, starring Drag Race UK Finalist Ella Vaday and the voice of the ultimate dame Dame Judi Dench! Join Cinders as she gets a North London upgrade, celebrating Islington’s rich history!
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| Ella Vaday |
15-year run as writer/director/dame at Greenwich Theatre).
In drizzly London, it’s hard to find romance these days - everyone is so busy! Cinderella needs help to leave her life of drudgery and explore a world full of adventures. A shy Prince needs someone to help bring him out of his shell and find his mojo. Could they help each other find the courage to change their lives? The Fairy Godmother thinks so! So, join her on this romantic roller-coaster of Christmas adventure! Boo the selfish step-sisters, Peckham and Dalston! Cheer on our North London lovers, Cinderella and the Prince! Boogie on down with Buttons and his daffy duck, Quackers! You’re all invited to the big Disco Ball this Christmas!
Drag Race UK Star Ella Vaday (Nick Collier) stars as one of the Ugly Stepsisters ‘Peckham’. We caught up with Ella to learn more.
What can you tell me about this production of Cinderella and your role of Peckham?
This production of Cinderella is unlike most pantomimes that you will go to this Christmas. It’s a very intimate venue, you won't miss a thing! Because of this, while playing the role of Peckham, one of the Ugly Sisters gets to interact with the audience much more than you would get in a bigger theatre. It’s also really fun and it’s actually really similar to one of my own drag gigs where you are on top of the audience. Plus, its really fun to play an Ugly Sister!
What attracted you this role?
What attracted me to the role and this show is the chance to work at such an iconic queer venue in London, especially when you look at all the greats that have been here before. And also, having the opportunity to christen the new venue with its very first pantomime was a really nice prospect. Also, I have never played a dame-type character, my last role was Captain Hook, then covering Peter Pan and Prince Charming, so if that's not aging then I don’t know what is! I seem to be embracing the feminine evil characters since appearing on Drag Race!
How much fun do you get in pushing the role as far as you can?
It’s so much fun pushing this role, you can’t really be too ridiculous when playing an Ugly Sister in Panto, especially when we have the adult show we get the chance to push it even further as the jokes that the kids don’t normally get, the adults absolutely get and they embrace it and we embrace it. It’s a lot of fun on the night and you never know quite what's going to happen… which is both terrifying and very exciting at the same time.
How do you mentally and physically prepare for a run in a panto?
Daily vitamins, down time when you get it and making sure you look after yourself as well as other company members. I’ve done panto before and I know it can be tough. It’s a 10-show week so you just have to buckle in and embrace the ride. Every show is different so there’s no telling what you are going to get every single day.
What are your own memories of pantos either on stage or as audience?
I always went to panto when I was a kid with my family. When I was about 14 I have the chance to be a dancer in panto and I got paid to do it and it’s actually what inspired me to go and train professionally when I was 16. So it had a huge influence and impact on me as it made me realise you could have a really fun job and get paid to do it!
Where did your performing career begin?
It began when I was about five where I started tap dancing and I forced my mum to take me to dance class. My mum was also always involved in amateur dramatics and my nan always tapped danced so performing was always in my blood. I was also very lucky to grow up in a household where performing and dancing was encouraged.
How do you reflect on your career up to this point?
Gosh, it’s certainly not been a straightforward career as when I left college I had no idea of where I would be going. I was lucky enough to do some amazing stuff in musical theatre for 13 years and then lockdown hit! I was about to go into the musical Hairspray, but that was suddenly put on hold so I ended up somehow going onto Drag Race, so my career completely changed and I’ve used all the things I have learnt from all of the career I've had before and just embraced them and used them every single time I do drag. The reflection is that you learn every single thing you do and it all adds up and it all helps in the future.
What keeps you inspired?
I get inspired by trying new things and not being boxed in and pigeonholed because whenever someone says I can’t do something it makes me want to do it even more, so I do it. I get inspired by other people who are courageous and not afraid to do something different. When I started drag nobody expected me to do drag… so that's why I did it!
What would you hope an audience takes away from seeing Cinderella?
Firstly, I hope they really have an amazing time and laugh and sing a long to all the songs! I also hope that there are some kids watching the show that we are inspiring and we’ll get to inspire the next generation of performers!
Cinderella plays at the King’s Head Theatre until Sunday 5th January 2025. Tickets are available from https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/cinderella
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