The countdown to Christmas is officially underway, as Fairfield Halls begins preparations for its glittering 2026 pantomime, Cinderella, with a special photocall and cast celebration.

Official pictures from the magical launch event offer audiences a first glimpse of this year's spectacular festive production, which opens at Fairfield Halls' Ashcroft Theatre on Friday 11 December 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027.

Produced by UK Productions Ltd., the acclaimed team behind some of the UK's most successful pantomimes, Cinderella promises a dazzling festive experience packed with spectacular sets, jaw-dropping costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy, sensational choreography, and plenty of surprises for audiences of all ages – including a magical carriage pulled by real ponies!

Written by award-winning panto writer Jon Monie, the production combines all the traditional ingredients theatre-goers know and love with a contemporary, West End-style theatrical experience.

Leading the cast is pop star and Steps favourite Lee Latchford-Evans as Prince Charming. Lee said;

“Today marked our first gathering as the cast of Cinderella, and the excitement is already sparkling! The laughter hasn’t stopped, the camaraderie is fantastic, and the banter has been absolutely priceless. We’re having an amazing time and can’t wait to bring this magical story to the stage and share the fun with everyone later this year!”

Lee Latchford-Evans is joined by returning Fairfield Halls panto favourites Charlie Guest as Buttons and Sorelle Marsh, adding sparkle as Fairy Godmother. Luke Attwood and Brandon Nicholson bring mayhem and mischief as the delightfully boo-worthy Melody and Harmony Hard-Up, while West End star, Rachel Grundy enchants as Cinderella, and returnee Chris Fearn brings his quick-witted charm as Prince Charming’s right-hand man, Dandini.

The launch event brought a touch of fairytale magic to Croydon as cast members came together for the first time ahead of this year’s production, building excitement for what promises to be one of the borough's biggest family entertainment events this Christmas.

With its magical transformation scenes, glittering ballroom moments, larger-than-life characters and plenty of audience participation, Cinderella is set to continue Fairfield Halls' popular pantomime tradition, welcoming thousands of families through its doors during the festive season.

Fairfield Halls is operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with Croydon Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Nicola Coney, Entertainment and Events Manager, said:

"We're delighted to kick off preparations for this year's pantomime and share the excitement of Cinderella with our audiences. Pantomime is a much-loved festive tradition, bringing generations of families together to enjoy laughter, music, magic and unforgettable moments. With a fantastic cast, spectacular production values and plenty of festive fun, we're looking forward to welcoming audiences from across Croydon and beyond this Christmas."

Produced on a West End scale, the show promises breathtaking scenery, stunning costumes, outstanding performances and all the classic pantomime ingredients audiences expect, making it the perfect festive treat for families, schools, community groups and theatre lovers alike.

On behalf of UK Productions Ltd, Martin Dodd, Managing Director said;

"Our Cinderella Panto Launch was the perfect first glimpse of what promises to be an unforgettable Christmas at Fairfield Halls. Seeing Lee, Charlie, Sorelle, Luke and Brandon, Rachel and Chris together for the first time, it was immediately clear that we have something very special on our hands. With huge laughs, fabulous characters, spectacular entertainment and all the ingredients of a classic family pantomime, this is one Christmas treat you won’t want to miss. Fairfield Halls audiences are in for a fantastic festive experience – so book your tickets now!”

In addition to public performances, Fairfield Halls is continuing its commitment to accessibility and community engagement through dedicated schools' performances, group booking offers, a captioned performance and a relaxed performance.

Tickets for Cinderella are on sale now, with a special limited-time ‘Double Trouble’ 2-for-1 offer available on selected performances until 20 September 2026. Tickets are on sale now at fairfield.co.uk.

This year’s booking highlights include:

• Performances from Friday 11 December 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027
• Accessible captioned performance on Monday 21 December 2026 – open to all
• A relaxed performance on Wednesday 30 December 2026, open to everyone and great for those who prefer a gentler panto experience.
• Ice creams for school groups of 50+ plus a limited number of funded tickets for pupils on low income, thanks to the generosity of previous panto audiences (T&Cs apply).
• Group rates available (6+, 20+, 50+) (T&Cs apply).
• School and young people’s concessions for under 16s on selected performances (T&Cs apply) - Friday 11 December (10:30am and 7pm), Sunday 13 December (11am), Tuesday 15 December (10:00am and 1:30pm), Wednesday 16 December (10:00am and 1:30pm), Sunday 3 January 2027 (3pm).
• School performances available.

For group bookings or school visits (including subsidised tickets for eligible schools) contact: groupsales@bhlive.org.uk

More information about Fairfield Halls can be found online at fairfield.co.uk.

More information about UK Productions Ltd can be found online at ukproductions.co.uk.