CINDERELLA PRESSING ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS
This year’s Darlington Civic Theatre pantomime, Cinderella, is proving a great hit with audiences.
Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the pantomime and Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre is proof enough that the all-time classic rags-to-riches story is simply the best when it comes to traditional family entertainment.
A fantastic feature at the Civic Theatre – apart from the beautiful auditorium and friendly staff, is the audience feedback board. Audience members are encouraged to write their comments about the show on a luggage label and attach it to the board using one of the colourful magnets supplied.
One current post reads “I loved Pudsey – it is the best show I’ve been to in my life” and another reads “The best thing I loved about the pantomime is that Buttons is really funny”.
In fact, looking at the board, the underlying feeling is that Buttons is a huge hit with children and adults alike. The role of Buttons is to tie the whole pantomime together, to be the narrator guiding you through the show. It requires a performer who is completely comfortable breaking the ‘fourth wall’, someone who has an instant connection to a theatre full of excited children and it helps if they can throw in some magic tricks along the way.
Matt Edwards brings his unique brand of performance to the role of Buttons at the Civic Theatre. Matt is a one man comedy experience but his warmth towards every cast member lifts the pantomime to another level. He combines magic and laughter with ease and is guaranteed to have any audience rolling around the aisles.
Matt told us “I started getting involved in magic at the age of five and have never lost my enthusiasm to learn new tricks or performance techniques. I joined the junior section of my local Magic Society in Ipswich and was also enrolled as the 300th member of the Young Magicians Club run by the world famous Magic Circle.”
When it comes to magic, Matt considers ‘entertainment’ to be the key word. “I like to dazzle and amaze audiences with routines that are mixed with humour and a great deal of skill, but I also like to feel the audience are involved in the tricks somehow.”
You can still catch Matt and the rest of the Cinderella cast as it runs until Sunday 10 January 2016. For tickets and more information visit darlingtoncivic.co.uk or call 01325 486555.