Amateur theatre group Westfield Folkhouse is celebrating a milestone year of producing pantomimes in Mansfield.

This festive season it will be putting on Cinderella, marking 85 years of local people entertaining theatregoers — the longest running pantomime in the area.

The Folkhouse group, which first put on a pantomime in 1941, is staging Cinderella at Mansfield Palace Theatre, from Saturday, 11th January to Sunday, 19th January 2025.

It promises plenty of comedy, singing and dancing as well as audience participation, sparkling costumes, and spectacular scenery.

There will be a total of 12 performances — and News Journal readers could watch one of them for free in our easy-to-enter competition.

A spokesperson said: “Our aim is to provide a pantomime suitable for young and old alike, and at an affordable price.

“All our junior and senior chorus, as well as the senior cast, are from the local surrounding area.

“This year, Westfield Folkhouse is presenting that best loved of all pantomimes, Cinderella. This traditional, family pantomime has something for all ages, including dancing, singing, comedy, and audience participation.”

The main cast includes Chloe Barratt-Reid as Cinderella, Amy Briscoe as Prince Charming, and Lynn Roberts as Dandini.

Comedy duo David Gell and Brandon Stafford, regulars at the Folkhouse panto for many years, are returning as Freddie Flat and Barry Broke, while Garry Hill and Martin Belcher will play the Ugly Sisters, Hernia and Nausea Hardup.

Other leading roles are Buttons (Matt Jayes), Baron Hardup (Phil Pincott), Baroness Hardup (Christine Oscroft), and Fairy Godmother (Theresa Stafford).

There will also be eight senior chorus dancers and three sets of eight junior chorus dancers.

A live band will add to the fun, under musical director James Barrows.

Win tickets to watch Cinderella

To enter our competition to win one of two sets of family tickets (four tickets) to the performance of Cinderella on Sunday, 12th January, at 6.30pm, answer the question below:

What are the names of Cinderella’s sisters?

and email your entry to [email protected], marking your email Cinderella Competition, before 30th November. The News Journal’s usual competition rules apply and the prize tickets can’t be exchanged for another performance.

If you are not lucky enough to win our competition, tickets, priced £9, can be bought (from 1st November) at www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre or call 01623 463313 or drop in at the Box Office.

There will be evening performances on 11th, 12th, and 14th to 19th January, at 7.15pm; afternoon matinees on both Saturdays, 11th and 18th, and on Sunday 12th at 2.30pm; and morning matinees on both Sundays, 12th and 19th, at 10.30am.