Chrissie Bhima takes the title role in Cinderella, the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre pantomime, in a company of nine announced today.
Chrissie Bhima will play the title role in Cinderella, the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre's pantomime for this winter. The full company was announced today, ahead of a run that opens on Saturday 14 November.
Ashh Blackwood plays Buttons and Durone Stokes is Prince M. Charming. Donna Berlin takes on Suella, Colin Burnicle doubles as Muruduth and Fairy Kween, and Lauryn Redding plays both Mikayla and Dandini. Sameer Dhanjee, Ellie Seaton and Liza Stevenson make up the ensemble.
The script is by Joel Horwood, a decade on from the Aladdin he wrote for the same stage in 2016, and whose credits include The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Robin Belfield directs, in a first production for the theatre, having previously staged Princess Essex and Anansi The Spider.
The rest of the creative team is set and costume designer Janet Bird, lighting designer Sally Ferguson, composer Corin Buckeridge, sound designer Holly Khan and choreographer Georgina Lamb. Ashton Moore is musical director and the casting is by Richard Johnston.
Rachel O'Riordan, artistic director of the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, said: "Panto is such a joyous part of the Lyric's annual programme, and something we're so excited to bring to our West London community each year. We're delighted to welcome back writer Joel Horwood for Cinderella, our 2026 panto, a decade on from his smash hit Aladdin at the Lyric in 2016. With Robin Belfield directing in his Lyric debut, audiences should expect a joyful, hilarious and heartwarming celebration of community and festive cheer. Alongside Cinderella, I'm thrilled that family classic Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary at the Lyric this year to brighten up our stages this festive season."
The Studio has a festive show of its own. Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas comes back for a fifteenth year, running from Wednesday 18 November to Sunday 27 December 2026 and co-produced with the Olivier Award-nominated Pins and Needles Productions. It is aimed at under-sixes and their families, and follows Santa through the busiest day of his working year. Emma Earle directs, with designer Zoe Squire, composer Lucy Rivers, puppet designer Max Humphries, lighting designer George Ogilvie and dramaturg Adam Peck.
Both runs carry access performances. Cinderella has a relaxed performance on Tuesday 1 December 2026 at 10am, an audio-described performance on Thursday 10 December at 7pm, a BSL-interpreted performance on Friday 11 December at 7pm and an open-captioned performance on Wednesday 16 December at 7pm. Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas has relaxed performances on Tuesday 24 November at 10.30am and Sunday 29 November at 9.30am, a BSL-interpreted performance on Monday 30 November at 11.30am and an audio-described performance on Thursday 3 December at 9.45am.
Cinderella runs at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, in Lyric Square off King Street, from Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Press night is on Saturday 21 November 2026, and tickets start at £10.
