Further casting for this year’s magical family pantomime, Cinderella
Panto Comic Neil Hurst and Singer, Actor and Impressionist Christina Bianco join Craig Revel Horwood in Cinderella at the Theatre Royal.
Leading the cast is previously announced Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother, who will be joined by panto comic Neil Hurst as Buttons, singer, actor and impressionist Christina Bianco as the Fairy Godmother, Daniel Norford as Dandini and Abigail Morris as Cinderella.
Craig Revel Horwood is a household name having appeared as a judge on all 22 series of the hit BBC One entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. He also directs and appears in the annual Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour, created the touring show Strictly Confidential and was Head Judge on Dancing with the Stars Australia and New Zealand.
Craig has also appeared in many West End musicals including Miss Saigon, Crazy for You and after many years, returned to play Miss Hannigan in Annie, which he successfully toured around the UK twice, including the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. He has also starred in a variety of pantomimes for Crossroads Pantomimes with other roles including the Wicked Queen in Snow White and Captain Hook in Peter Pan.
Neil Hurst returns to the Theatre Royal after performing as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray! in November 2024. Best known for his TV roles in The Syndicate and Fresh Meat, Neil also co-hosted ITV’s All-Star Family Fortunes, The ABC Murders for the BBC and has appeared in family favourites such as Coronation Street, All Creatures Great and Small and Casualty. Neil has performed as the resident panto comic at Hull New Theatre for the past 5 years, as well as touring the UK in musicals such as The Full Monty and Hairspray!.
Following her standout performance as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat back in February, Christina Bianco returns to the Theatre Royal to play The Fairy Godmother in this year’s pantomime. A two-time Drama Desk Award nominee, Christina Bianco is an internationally acclaimed performer, best known for her vocal versatility and captivating stage presence. Her West End credits include Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium, and Ado Annie in Oklahoma! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. In New York, she earned Drama Desk nominations for Application Pending and Forbidden Broadway, and played leading roles in Rent, Hello, Dolly! and Funny Girl in Paris. A viral sensation with over 25 million views of her ‘diva’ impressions, Christina has appeared on The Paul O’Grady Show, This Morning and RuPaul’s Drag Race, and has performed her solo concerts to sold-out audiences across the globe.
Daniel Norford trained at East 15 and has an impressive list of stage credits, including The Welkin, All of Us and Small Island at the National Theatre, and Fast at Park Theatre. He played Banzai in Disney’s The Lion King (UK and international tour) and has also appeared in The American Clock, Estate Walls, The Notebook of Trigorin, and as Killigrew the Kind in Treasure Island. Daniel has appeared in many productions for Crossroads Pantomimes over the years, delighting audiences up and down the country, and has featured in 4Q, Driftwood, Small-Time Revolutionary and Smile, alongside a wide range of commercials, readings, and voiceover work.
Abigail Morris is a 2025 graduate of The Arts Educational School. During her training, she appeared as Wendla in Spring Awakening and in the ensemble of Sister Act. She also took part in the workshop of Martin Guerre at The Old Vic, directed by Matthew Warchus. Cinderella will mark Abigail’s professional stage debut.
The production is staged by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer.
Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her Prince Charming. Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Nottingham audiences expect, Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.
Cinderella runs from Friday 28 November 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026