Fairfield Halls has revealed that the talented Rachel Grundy will star as Cinderella in this year’s spectacular festive pantomime, joining a stellar line-up for what promises to be one of the must-see family shows of Christmas 2026.

For generations, pantomime has been more than a night at the theatre. It is the Christmas memory families return to year after year: grandparents bringing grandchildren, parents remembering the shows they saw as children, little ones shouting their first “He’s behind you!”, and whole audiences coming together for laughter, music, magic and festive mayhem.

This Christmas, that treasured tradition comes dazzlingly to life at Fairfield Halls, as Cinderella brings all the sparkle, romance, comedy and wonder audiences could wish for in a truly unmissable seasonal spectacular.

Rachel, whose exceptional voice, warmth and stage presence have made her a firm favourite with audiences, will step into the iconic glass slippers as she leads this enchanting production alongside Lee Latchford-Evans from chart-topping pop phenomenon Steps, who stars as the dashing Prince Charming.

Bringing the laughs is Charlie Guest as Buttons, with comedy duo Luke Attwood and Brandon Nicholson completing the line-up as the fabulously wicked and delightfully boo-worthy Melony and Harmony Hard-Up.

Rachel said

“After having such a wonderful time playing Cinderella last Christmas, I’m thrilled to be stepping into her glass slippers again in Croydon! Panto has always held a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to spend the festive season sharing laughter, magic and a little bit of sparkle with audiences at Fairfield Halls.”

Packed with laughter, music, mischief, magic and heart, Cinderella is set to be the festive show families will be talking about long after the clock strikes midnight.

Martin Dodd from UK Productions said;

“We're absolutely delighted to welcome Rachel Grundy as our Cinderella at Fairfield Halls this Christmas. Rachel possesses everything you could wish for in a leading lady – warmth, elegance, a wonderful sense of fun, and a natural ability to captivate an audience from the moment she steps on stage.

“Audiences will instantly fall in love with Rachel’s Cinderella and she brings a genuine charm and sincerity to the role that makes her the perfect fit. Whether she's sweeping the kitchen floor, dazzling at the Royal Ball, or winning the heart of Prince Charming, she'll have audiences cheering her on every step of the way.”

Rachel boasts an impressive array of TV and film credits alongside a sparkling career in the magical world of pantomime. On stage, she has wowed audiences in Legally Blonde The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show and Phantom, showcasing her versatility and star quality. She is no stranger to pantomime either, having delighted crowds as Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk, Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, and the fabulously named Fairy Liquid in Beauty and the Beast.

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

On behalf of BH Live, Steve Turner, Director of Venues, added;

“It’s wonderful to welcome Rachel back to the UKP Fairfield Halls panto family, she is a musical maestro and vocal powerhouse, everyone will be cheering her on to find her Prince Charming!”

This Christmas, theatregoers are in for an unforgettable treat as Rachel helps bring the timeless story of Cinderella to dazzling life on stage - perfect festive escape, promising pure magic for families, friends, and fairytale fans of all ages.

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.