Cinderella Postponement

It is with great regret and sadness that together with Charming Pantos we have made the decision to postpone this year’s production of Cinderella to Christmas 2021.

Set to be the first pantomime in over 60 years at the venue, the large-scale production requires a huge level of investment now to ensure its ready including the casting, special effects, costumes, set design and much more. Despite the proposed lifting of restrictions, the risk of a resurgence in Covid-19 and of localised lockdowns during Winter, make the financial investment required too much of a risk.

Cinderella will now open on Sunday 12 December 2021 until Sunday 02 January 2022. Existing tickets will remain valid for the new corresponding dates allowing customers to exchange tickets for no extra charge. Over the coming weeks, our box office team will contact all affected customers, in the meantime ticket queries can be made via email to ticketquery@wgbpl.co.uk.

Whilst we are devasted to have come to such a decision, we are pleased to announce that Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas along with CBeebies Jennie Dale will still star in the 2021 staging of Cinderella, Blackpool’s biggest ever pantomime.

Shirley Ballas comments ‘I am devasted that I won’t be on-stage in Blackpool this Christmas, but the safety of the audience, cast and crew is what’s most important. I am delighted that the show will return in 2021 and can’t wait to take to the stage for Blackpool’s biggest ever pantomime’

The pantomime was set to be the first full scale pantomime in over 60-years featuring an all-star cast, spectacular effects, lavish costumes, and stunning sets.

Michael Williams, Winter Gardens Managing Director comments ‘we are deeply saddened to postpone Cinderella until next Christmas. We were all hugely excited to see such a large-scale pantomime return to the Opera House this year, but the potential of a socially distanced Christmas just isn’t viable’

‘We’d like to express our thanks to Mark and the team at Charming pantos along with Shirley for making it possible to rearrange to 2021. We cannot wait for audiences to see what is set to be one of the most spectacular Christmas shows to have ever taken place in Blackpool.

The Winter Gardens Blackpool had teamed up with the producers of smash-hit musicals Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert to bring Blackpool’s biggest ever pantomime to the Opera House. A partnership that will continue for the staging in 2021.

Mark Goucher, Charming Pantos Producer comments ‘To ensure the best possible production, to the grand scale we envisage, to ensure Blackpool’s biggest ever pantomime, postponing to 2021 became the only choice given the uncertainty that remains around live theatre in the UK without the need for social distancing. Our team of creatives will continue to work behind the scenes readying Cinderella for what’s set to be a spectacular large-scale production.

Cinderella at the Opera House Blackpool from Sunday 12 December 2021 – Sunday 02 January 2022, Tickets are now on-sale for the 2021 dates from £10, with existing tickets remaining valid for the corresponding performances. Full details can be found at www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.