Tisbe (Tamsin Slatter), Magnifico (Don Crerar) and Clorinda (Julie van Haperen)
Cinderella | Katherine Cooper |
Ramiro | Robin Whitehouse |
Dandini | Sean Aquilina | Clorinda | Julie van Haperen |
Tisbe | Tamsin Slatter |
Don Magnifico | Don Crerar |
Alidoro | James Mitchell |
Stage director Stan Pretty MBE; Musical director Max Fane; Set designer/assistant stage director Suzanne Thomson; Producers Cathy Black, Felicity Merchant.
We broke new ground with La Cenerentola; the production was a first for us, and it was graced by a female chorus, which Rossini seems to have overlooked. As Stan Pretty said: 'Gone were the fairy godmother, the pumpkin, the coach, the glass slipper… instead of a wicked stepmother was a curmudgeonly stepfather and instead of the godmother was a wise tutor of the Prince called Alidoro.' But it was still a fairytale and a heart-warming love story.
We recruited three outstanding young professionals; four of our own members took on the challenging roles of the 'ugly' sisters, the tutor Alidoro, and that grumpy stepfather Don Magnifico; and West Berks Ballet School provided four enchanting - and enchanted - mice. And we were delighted to be awarded funding from Arts Council England, for the first time ever.
Ensemble with Cinderella (Katherine Cooper) and Alidoro (James Mitchell) at R
Photos —La Cenerentola Gallery
'Fun-filled, tuneful and touching' — the director's vision, from Stan Pretty
What's it like to play an ugly sister? Find out.
'Exceptional performances … great fun' Review by NODA
'Plays to the company's choral strength' Review by Newbury Weekly News