Guest Blog: William Whelton & Joseph Houston Talk About Re-Telling CINDERELLA at Hope Mill Theatre

Cinderella is a tale that has captured hearts globally, an iconic story that has been retold in countless ways since as early as 23BCE. When an opportunity to recreate the magic of Cinderella in a new and fresh way arises, it is a chance to bring this story to new generations as well as reignite fond memories for those whose enchantment with Cinders began long ago. In our case, with the European Premiere of the 2013 Broadway production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein version on our hands, we knew we had big shoes, or glass slippers, to fill!

With the incredible creative team that we assembled way back in 2019, before the world took a turn no one expected, we have had many years to dream and grow the ideas behind this production. These three years, mixed with the ambition that flourishes within the Hope Mill walls, has left us with a pretty epic show.

The development in performance technologies has also played a part in how the show has progressed since 2019. We are once again transforming our space in a way that audiences have never seen before at Hope Mill. With a show full of spectacular transformations and magical moments, we are using lights, sound, set and projection to transport audiences along with the journey of our strong, beautiful Ella (played by the incredible Grace Mouat).

In our intimate setting of the Grade 2 listed Hope Mill, there is a fine balance to be kept when using these elements to enhance the performance and storytelling, rather than overwhelming it. We are thrilled to have the most amazing team who are doing this perfectly.

This version of Cinderella, with a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and additional music from Rodgers and Hammerstein's back catalogue, provides the characters we know and love (and sometimes hate) with a fresh perspective. There are even some new additions to this fairy tale world that we hope will keep audiences enraptured, we have certainly had fun exploring and playing with them...

Madame is the epitome of all consuming vanity, but a woman in a man's world who knows what she wants and how to get it, unfortunately, at the expense of Cinderella's happiness. Prince Topher is less 'dashing Prince Charming' and a little more 'boy next door' with a deep-down desire for helping people and doing good but finds himself manipulated by the scheming Sebastian.

Jean-Michel, the revolutionary, brings a whole new dynamic to the show, his call to arms for those struggling under the reign of the current Monarchy, and his want for fairness with more say from the working-class people, hits a little close to home, if we consider the current political and social climate.

Of course, our 'Ella' is more of a modern woman, with ideas and dreams beyond finding Prince Charming. Instead, she wants to 'change the world she lives in' by spreading 'kindness' to those that need it most... although she does find love along the way!

To bring back this well-loved and well-explored story has been a challenge we have relished, and loved every second of. We hope that the magic we have created over the last three years can be felt by audiences old and new and that this special story will capture hearts once again, as we all remember... anything is possible!

Cinderella is at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre until 11 December

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