ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

CINDERELLA by Steven Oliver-Grant Directed by Daniel Oliver-Grant Hyde Festival Theatre

Firstly, I would like to welcome this group to the ACT family. This is the first production that has been produced by this group after joining us. This is not to say that they have not supplied entertainment for the public of Hyde and the wider reaches of Tameside and beyond in the past because this theatre celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. In 1952 the former Alexandra Picture House was converted into what is now called Hyde Festival Theatre. The theatre is used by various organisations

who produce their own shows for the public but also independent acts hire the facility. The running of the theatre is by volunteers, many of whom are representatives of the groups who use it. Indeed, most of the cast, front of house and back stage are people from these organisations. This, self-written pantomime was based on the age old tale of ‘Cinderella’, though there were differences from what you would call a traditional pantomime. As the production director says in his remarks from the programme: “This production isn’t your traditional pantomime as we have taken a more modern, fun approach. We wanted to bring you modern musical numbers in the storyline whilst retaining the customary puns, jokes and straplines that with which we are familiar.” On the whole this was achieved, with fun and energy and certainly the young audience was very vocal and appreciative throughout. The storyline, characters, and events in plot were familiar to us all and included lots of elements to involve audience participation. The chance to boo the baddies, shout “Oh, yes they did!”, join in the screaming of the monster scene of “It’s behind you” are always ones that I look forward