Family fairytale fun at this year’s Horsham pantomime

One of the most loved fairytales across the world, the tale of Cinderella, will be told at the Capitol theatre this December.

Audiences will be treated to laughs, glass slippers and a fancy ball - and with the show finishing well before midnight, there is no danger of the spells being broken.

And this year’s cast is far more golden carriage than pumpkin.

The stars include Rosemary Shrager, who is set to cook up a recipe for love in the revered role of the Fairy Godmother.

Rosemary is a television chef who proved her mettle by competing in the 2012 series of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

When she isn’t deep in the Australian jungle, Rosemary is appearing on the Alan Titchmarsh Show or This Morning, and has also appeared in ITV’s Ladette to Lady and Rosemary Shrager’s School for Cooks.

She said: “I am the Fairy Godmother, but I have to be careful not to overdo it. I have to be believable but I am going to make it fun and try to be everyone’s favourite aunt.

“I am in my element - the only thing I am scared about is I am singing a solo.”

Rosemary revealed she initially turned down the pantomime - before realising she had been asked to play the Fairy Godmother.

Fearing the part had since been cast, Rosemary personally called Nick Mowat, the general manager of the Capitol, to ask if she could still perform the role.

She said: “I love pantomime. It is a little bit of everything - romantic, childish and smutty.

“It wasn’t for the money - I wanted to do the show.”

Self-confessed Disney fan Zoe Adkin said she was ‘absolutely buzzing’ to be cast as Cinderella.

She said: “My niece is very excited, she is five so it is great to say ‘my auntie is Cinderella’.

“I genuinely love panto, there is nothing quite like it - quintessentially British and something for everyone.

“My childhood memory would be the transformation, with the pumpkin and everything, so that will be fun.”

CBBC’s Olly Pike, who plays Wiley Sneak in Trapped, features as Dandini, Prince Charming’s best friend.

He said: “I like pantomime because it’s not too serious - as much as I love doing theatre, in panto you can bend the rules a bit.

“I am well excited because I’m going to channel my Essex roots, so I’m going to keep it ‘reem’.”

Also performing is Keith Jack, who shot to fame as the runner up to Lee Mead on the BBC show Any Dream Will Do.

Keith, who will play Prince Charming in Cinderella, played Joseph in the touring production of the show until May 2013, and is also a pantomime veteran.

As well as telling the famous story, the show will delight audiences with pantomime’s winning formula of slapstick comedy, audience participation and songs.

The Capitol’s Nick Mowat has written the script and will direct the show, and promised a fun family event.

He said: “It has been a joy, we have got a fantastic company this year with great singers, particularly in Keith and Zoe.

“It is interesting when you meet people off the telly because you don’t know what they are going to be like in real life, but Rosemary is charming.

“We have all got the same idea and that is to give the audience an entertaining production.”

Hinting at one of the show’s highlights, Nick added: “There is nothing quite like having miniature Shetland ponies drawing Cinderella’s coach to the ball!”

A total of 27 local young people also feature in the show, which will run from December 11 to January 4.

Tickets cost £19 and concessions tickets are £17.