More than 200 children from Dorset took over the Barrington Theatre at Ferndown to see Cinderella, the rags to riches pantomime. The children from Bethany School in Boscombe, Bournemouth, and Beaucroft School in Wimborne, had a fabulous time booing and cheering as the story unfolded.

Their theatre visit was organised by Variety Wessex and was part of the “Great Day’s Out Scheme” that aims to give disadvantaged children positive experiences and memories, that children might not otherwise experience.

The show was written and directed by Kev Aggett and Rachel-Elisabeth Hewitt and featured Variety Wessex’s favourite children’s entertainer Krazy Kev as Buttons. The young audience particularly enjoyed the antics of the two very Ugly Sisters Alexa and Siri (Tyler Marlow and Tim Hudson) whose costume changes were frequent and flamboyant and banter witty and scathing!

There was music, magic, singing, daft humour and some silly and very effective slapstick action! It’s a cheery show and the children left smiling.

Frances Cornelius, chair of Variety Wessex said:

“Thank you to everyone at the Barrington Theatre for welcoming our Variety children, Kev and the pantomime cast for putting on a show to remember, Laguna Coaches for safe travel to and from Ferndown, and our wonderful supporters, Shan and BC Club, for funding this Christmas entertainment. Also thank you Krazy Kev for putting on a number of fabulous Zoom shows for children who are not able to attend a theatre production.”