Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Oh yes, the wonderful British pantomime season is here again. Now if I told you that I played Principal Girl for about five years running you might wonder what I did for the rest of the year. Well, the pantomime season runs from early December sometimes well into February, which for a self-employed pro' is a good long run. I presented a Children's television programme at the time and the two went hand in hand beautifully. (If I told you the names of the people in the cast with me in panto you would expect me to be on a zimmer frame by now! So, suffice it to say that I was VERY young, and let's say no more about it!!!)
Except that I absolutely adored being in panto, of course.

Where else would you find men dressed as women and girls dressed as boys slapping their thighs with absolutely no sexual innuendo whatsoever?!

Audience participation is a given... 'She's behind you!!' 'Oh, no I didn't... Oh, yes you did...' And of course The Song... where the audience is split into groups and competes rowdily with each other.

The 'ugly sisters' were equipped with water guns in the production we went to see and as we had to sit near the front- cos I have to be part of the action- we got royally drenched. Marvellous!!

Fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic.

I went with Aunty Kay (87) and my youngest (18) and believe me we joined in everything, shouting our heads off and having an absolutely stupendous time.
All three of us confessed to being as excited as the youngest children there as we waited for the show to begin, and I didn't even dare to hope that real live white ponies... as sometimes happens in Cinderella- would draw Cinderella's coach when she went to the ball.

They did!!! They DID!!!

It was just fabulous. And the cast were fabulous. Even the ladies who sold the programmes and showed us to our seats were fabulous.

If you get the chance do go to the pantomime this year- and I hope yours is as good as ours...
Here's the skinny on Cinderella at the Lowry Theatre Salford starring the fabulous Faith Brown...


It's a brand new pop musical version of the traditional tale Cinderella, and has everything your family knows and loves, plus a scintillating top ten score!

Poor Cinderella is left behind by her two cruel stepsisters who are off to the Prince’s ball. Even the antics of jolly Buttons can’t cheer her up. But when the Fairy Godmother arrives and waves her magic wand, Cinderella’s life changes forever, she does go to the ball only to fall in love with the handsome prince and live happily ever after!

With breathtaking special effects, lavish costumes and a terrific cast, this is a Christmas show every family will love!

And I can vouch for that!

With my love to all, and happy theatre-going everyone!!!

Susan