Fairytale world of magic at Priory Theatre

The amateur dramatics team, this time including 21 children, will enchant audiences with the wonders of Cinderella.

Although a long-standing Priory actor, taking part in this play has been particularly challenging for Kim Bradley who, at 27, is taking on her first role as director.

She said: “I have been doing pantomimes since I was six, so it’s something I know inside out and back to front. I know what it should be and I know the feel of it.

“I’m more comfortable with this than with a regular play for my debut as a director. It’s lots of hard work coordinating everything but for me, it’s been brilliant - loads of fun.”

Kim developed her thespian talents by joining the Kenilworth-based Odyssey drama group as a young child, before moving on to the Priory, where she has assumed lead roles in many pantomimes over the years, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Sinbad the Sailor and Puss in Boots. She has even played Cinderella herself when the venue last staged the production ten years ago.

Now with a full-time job as project research manager at Leisure Concepts in Kenilworth, she’s had to give up every evening for the past few weeks to attend rehearsals and set-building and costume preparation sessions.

She said: “I love pantos because I love Christmas. I love the magical fairytale and romance of it all and the combination of proper acting, comedy, music and slapstick.”

Performing has become such a big part of Kim’s life that she has found it rather strange to be off stage for the first time. She said: “I have learnt all the dances even though I’m obviously not in any of them. It’s really hard to not be on stage!

“I am very much looking forward to opening night. I will be more nervous than everyone else put together, but I cannot wait to see it all put together.”

Cinderella is on at the Priory Theatre in Rosemary Hill, Kenilworth, from Thursday until Sunday January 2. For tickets, call 863334 or go online.