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Vivienne Kennedy reviews Cinderella, playing at Bristol Tobacco Factory Theatre until 15 January

On Friday 09 December I visited the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Southville to watch their Christmas show, Cinderella, presented by Travelling Light Theatre Company and directed by Sally Cookson.

“I’m smiling so much that my face is aching.”

That was what I overheard someone sat a couple of seats down from me say part way through the second act of Cinderella; it summed up perfectly how I was feeling too.

Travelling Light’s version of Cinderella takes its inspiration from the Brothers Grimm and their story Aschenputtel. Following the death of her mother Ella is brought up by her loving father, but their happy, peaceful life changes when he takes a second wife and Ella finds herself with not just a step mother but a step brother and sister too. Sadly before long Ella loses her father too and her newly widowed step mother decides that she must be the household skivvy, scrubbing floors and cleaning as her step siblings taunt her. Ella has plenty of friends and helpers in the form of the birds living in the forest around the family’s home, and with their help she is able to outwit her evil family.

The story is told by a cast of just five and they switch effortlessly from portraying humans to birds throughout the show. Lisa Kerr is a bright, slightly feisty Cinderella; her prince, played by Thomas Eccleshare, is geeky and asthmatic but also suitably charming; Craig Edwards is subtly wicked as the Step Mother; Saikat Ahamed plays the step brother, who turns out to be rather sweet rather than totally evil, and Lucy Tuck is the step sister, and sometimes the Queen too.

The show is easy to follow, not overly wordy, has some fabulous choreographed routines and is very, very funny. Not only was my face aching from smiling so much, at times my stomach was also aching from so much laughter. The music; composed by Benji Bower and performed by him and his brother Will; is perfect, with some lovely mellow, jazzy moments; as we left there were children dancing in front of their seats, showing its appeal to all ages.

This production of Cinderella is quirky, imaginative and innovative and last night provided my most enjoyable night at the theatre this year – I loved it.

Cinderella runs at the Tobacco FactoryTheatre until 15 January with morning, matinee and evening performances. Tickets are priced from £6 to £15 and can be booked online at www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com, by telephone on 0117 902 0344 or in person from the Box Office at the theatre in Raleigh Road.

I am more than a little bit tempted to go again!

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