Reviewed by Jodie Crawford

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s my favourite time of year, that time of year when we gather together and head into Manchester to be entertained at the annual Opera House Panto. Oh yes it is!

This year we are treated to the age old tale of Cinderella. It has all the traditional ingredients needed to tell the story. From a wicked step mother, a Prince Charming, two step sisters, a Fairy Godmother and our old mate Buttons. 

But as we have now come to expect, from a Manchester Opera House Panto, this show has so much more to give than an old school Panto. This is Manchester. We do things differently here, and Panto is no exception.

Everything about this show is slick. Crossroads Pantomimes deliver a well carved and crafted show with a glitzy set and dazzling costumes. The effects team have gone to town this year, and the scene with Cinderella’s carriage is one of the most magical moments I have ever seen in Panto (and I have seen A LOT of pantos).

I am not sure I am ever going to be ready for a world of Manchester Panto where Nickless (Buttons, this year) and Manford aren’t on stage together. This duo is a match made in Panto heaven. You can see the bond that these two men have with each other both in character and out. They work together elegantly on stage – there is no other Mancunian duo that could capture the audience like these two do.  And boy do we love it! Who knew it was possible to cry tears of laughter while singing Sweet Caroline on a Tuesday night in town! 

Make no mistake, Manford is an all round performer, he’s so much more than just a comedian (which he also does very well obviously) he has become a seasoned Panto pro. He has a rich and deep voice and while his dancing still gives off full on dad dancing vibes, (which is part of the charm) he is enormously entertaining throughout the entire production. But he isn’t alone. Nickless, his right hand man, shines brightly in his role as Buttons. He is a first class panto star. It’s like he was born for it. The gags keep coming, his comic timing is genius, and he clearly loves what he is doing and that makes us, the audience, love him even more. And his James Blunt impression is more James Blunt than James Blunt could do himself. If laughter is the best medicine than Nickless is a healer! 

The whole cast of Cinderella is exquisite, they come together so perfectly to create a night of magical Christmas memories.   

There were stand out performances from Liz Carney and Chloe Chesworth, as the wicked step sisters. Manford and Nickless might need to watch their backs with these two storming onto the Opera House panto scene. I thoroughly enjoyed this comedic duo throughout the show.  

And Panto wouldn’t be panto without a villain for us all to hate (love) and Myra DuBois delivers: the costumes, the gags, the bullying of the bloke who wished he hadn’t sat front centre in the audience, the boos and hisses- all came together perfectly! The dame is an integral part of a Panto, but it takes a special Dame to do what DuBois does – and makes it look so effortless. 

Cinderella is absolutely top notch, a must see, be prepared to laugh your socks off and leave wanting more. 

Cinderella is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Sunday 5th January (with best availability in January) tickets available here.