Panto stars from Cinderella at The Garage – photo supplied

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MY FIRST PANTO: CINDERELLA

The Garage and All-In Productions are delighted to announce the casting for My First Panto: Cinderella, local actress Rosalind Burt will be leading as ‘Cinderella’, fresh from the West End Lloyd Gorman has recently returned to Norwich where he grew up to play the ‘Fairy God Brother’, ‘Prince Simon’ and ‘Kylie (ugly sister)’ and local resident Joey Herzfeld will play ‘Buttons’ and ‘Miley (ugly sister)’.

Rehearsals have now begun with the basic staging of the whole piece completed. The actor-musicians have also been working on creating the magical musical moments throughout the show, including the giant conga line to get to the ball which sees Cinderella dancing and playing the clarinet. On Friday the actors took a trip to The Garage’s Toddler Dance class to spend time with children from ages 2-5 and their families to ensure that the work will be engaging and exciting for little ones.

Director Daniel Burgess said, “I’m over the moon to have assembled such a talented cast for My First Panto: Cinderella. Casting from both London and the region was really important to us in order to deliver the best to our audience. For such a small cast to play so many instruments is going to be amazing to watch and listen to. Nowhere in the Norwich area is currently doing actor musician productions, So All-In Productions is very pleased to allow audiences to experience something new.”

Rosalind Burt, who plays Cinderella said “We have had such joy putting together a piece of theatre for all the family to enjoy. Full of glorious storytelling and playful moments with our audience, not to mention a chance to dance with Prince Charming and Cinderella!”

Rosalind Burt trained at Middlesex University, specializing in Solo Performance and Physical Comedy. Her most recent theatrical work has been in Children’s Theatre, both on stage and sight specific. Other theatrical credits include Original Storytelling (The Norfolk Show) Chalk Circle Theatre Company presents The Lower Depths (The Garage Theatre).

Lloyd Gorman has recently returned to Norwich where he grew up to perform, his theatrical work includes Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End), Nicobobinus (Dumbwise/UK Tour), Saturday Night (Arts Theatre, West End), Our House (New Wolsey Theatre/UK Tour),The Story Giant (Shanty Theatre Company), Worst Wedding Ever (Salisbury Playhouse), Faust (Greenwich Theatre), Anyone Can Whistle (Jermyn Street), Pinocchio (Tolmen Centre), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd; Romeo and Juliet, David Copperfield, White Nights, The Nose and Harmless (Octagon Theatre, Bolton), Fewer Emergencies (Deptford Albany), Grimethorpe Race (Arcola), and Treasure Island (UK Tour).

Since training as an actor at Mountview Academy Joey Herzfeld has toured extensively. He’s done outdoor shows with Heartbreak Productions, bellowing through the wind and rain as the French king in Henry V, as Jacques and Silvius in As You Like It and as Colin in The Secret Garden. He’s told many tall tales with The Pantaloons, playing LOTS of parts in The Canterbury Tales and Grimm Fairy Tales and Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He’s toured Japan and Eastern Europe with TNT, playing Mr Peggoty in David Copperfield. He’s written and performed in Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows. He’s mumbled through naturalistic indie films. He’s gigged and released albums with a series of his own bands. And now he’s an ugly sister. There are no worlds left to conquer.
My First Panto: Cinderella re-imagines this classic story and puts the audience at the centre of the action. Created especially with young children for younger children and their families, this production will have you singing, dancing and playing with Cinderella and Buttons through this magical adventure. A family friendly experience, in a relaxed setting for your little ones to participate in theatre for the first time; babies can be fed and children play along with the action. My First Panto: Cinderella, the event the whole family can enjoy, even when your little one sings along or dances out from their seat.

A world premiere, My First Panto: Cinderella is an new piece of immersive theatre for the whole family directed by Daniel Burgess opening at The Garage for a two week limited season from Friday, 9th December 2016 – Join us in this, the perfect treat in the run up to Christmas.

Director Daniel Burgess’ productions for All-In Productions include: The Little Blue Boat and the Secret of the Broads (Regional tour and Latitude Festival). Daniel trained on the BA Theatre Arts with Theatre Direction at Middlesex University. Direction includes The Pillowman (Norwich Playhouse), In the Blood and The Sweethearts (Finborough Theatre), Waterton’s Wild Menagerie (Theatre503), Days of Significance, Nativity, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Theatre Royal Norwich Youth Company), The Dispossessed (Etcetera Theatre), Coming and Going (Poole Lighthouse Theatre) and Christie in Love (Edinburgh Festival). Associate Direction includes As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe) Orpheus and Eurydice (National Youth Theatre) and Dorothy and the Lost Princess of Oz (Theatre Royal Norwich). Assistant Direction includes Anne Boleyn (English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe), As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe), Skylight, The Ugly One (Norwich Playhouse), A Day at the Racists, Moliere or the League of Hypocrites and Too True to be Good (Finborough Theatre).

All-in Productions was founded in 2014 to created exciting and high quality theatre in the East, to be seen in the East and beyond that ALL audiences could enjoy and engage with. This vision supports the aim of the creation of barrier free theatre created and rooted in the eastern region. This means that we want to create work that doesn’t bolt on accessibility devices, such as surtitles, signed performance and touch tours but develops a new way of creating theatre from the concept and rehearsal room out; not just creating accessible bolt-on’s but removing the barriers to performance that some audience members face when attending the theatre. Since forming All-In, the Company have presented a range of productions in differing venues across the east. This includes The New Wolsey, Pulse festival, Latitude Festival and The Garage. They are currently in preproduction for upcoming productions: The Junks and Simon Vs the Bedbugs.

The Press on director Daniel Burgess
“Mesmerising production that mixes Old Mother Hubbard and Medea.” Michael Billington, The Guardian on In the Blood
“Burgess’ production is raw and emphatic, the cast are terrific, doubling as Hester’s broadband as her tormentors, blunt and bleak, but undeniably affecting” Sam Marlowe, The Times on In the Blood
“Daniel Burgess’s production gets off to a great start and maintains a good mix of silly lines and darker humour.” Partially Obstructed View on The Sweethearts
“In director Daniel Burgess’ production the drama is intense, gripping and funny, the jokes coming thick and fast.” Ed Nightingale, Exeunt on The Sweethearts
“Great writing, thought-through direction and brilliant casting.” James Tennent, Everything Theatre on The Sweethearts
The Garage is a centre for performing arts located in Norwich which supports the creative journeys of participants, audiences and artists. It is home to The Garage Trust, a registered charity providing support and development opportunities for children, young people and families from all backgrounds. The organisation provides a year round programme of activities including high quality programming, participation, education and training for all ages from its city centre venue and beyond through work with schools and partners across the county, region and nationally. For more information visit www.thegarage.org.uk

The Garage, 14 Chapelfield North, Norwich NR2 1NY
Box Office 01603 598646 Book online at www.thegarage.org.uk
Friday, 9th December – Saturday, 24th December 2016
Schedule of performances:
Friday, 9th December – 10.30am SOLD OUT
Saturday, 10th December – 1.30pm
Sunday, 11th December – 1.30pm
Monday, 12th December – 10.30am SOLD OUT & 4pm
Tuesday, 13th December – 10.30am
Friday, 16th December – 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday, 17th December – 10.30am
Sunday, 18th December – 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Monday, 19th December – 10.30am SOLD OUT
Tuesday, 20th December – 1.30pm
Friday, 23rd December – 1.30pm
December 24th December 10.30am SOLD OUT

Prices £10 Adult/ £6 Child, Under 1’s go free.
Performance Length: Approximately 50minutes with no interval.