KidZania London has been somewhat deserted for the majority of this year, considering the indoor city at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush is usually overrun with kids, providing learning through interactive role-play. Earlier this year, however, the venue was utilised to record a pantomime, in collaboration with producer Louis Rayneau. 

It was originally hoped that Cinderella could be screened at the KidZania theatre itself but with London’s recent tier assignment, it has been moved online like so many other events. For 45 minutes, virtual audiences can enjoy this high quality production from the comfort of their own homes for the extremely reasonable price of £15 per household. 

Filmed on location, the script is condensed but unlike several other online pantomimes I have watched this year, the team (headed up by directors Rayneau and Lauren Osborn) ensure the story thread is kept strong and there’s the perfect amount of panto wit included - with the obligatory remarks reaching adults by going over the kids’ heads! The changes in location around the building assist in moving the show forward at a good pace and the choreography by Ashlee Young and Rachel Sargent (who also appear in the show) is adapted well to the varying settings.

From the opening titles, you know you will be witnessing a show with high production values. Superb animation is used to set the scene before we are introduced to the characters, represented by a company of top musical theatre performers. The animation creates magic that is often difficult to achieve on screen, especially during the transformation sequence. Occasionally the transitions between shots could be smoother and some of the camera angles adjusted but the content more than makes up for the infrequent technical flaw.

There are some great musical numbers interspersed with the dialogue, all of which fit together well. From The Greatest Showman’s ‘Come Alive’ opening the panto, to an epic performance of ‘Somebody To Love’ by Beccy Lane as Cinderella, to the upbeat and ever popular ‘I’ll Be There For You’ aka the Friends theme tune; there is a good mix of musical genres covered. Ed Court’s musical direction shows off the performers at their vocal best with some wonderful harmonies and arrangements showcased.

Nicholas McLean is a very endearing Buttons, with the aforementioned Beccy Lane owning the show from her first appearance in the title role. Whilst Ashleigh Harvey’s Wicked Stepmother could have been a bit more wicked, she has an incredible eleven o’clock number with ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ and commands the floor - along with the fabulous Jamie Jones and Courtney Jackson as Fifi and Gigi respectively - during ‘Run The World (Girls)’.

Amy Matthews as the Fairy Godmother excels during the transformation scene, singing ‘Beautiful’ and ‘When You Believe’ with Beccy Lane, and whilst Luke Street had the opportunity to own his character of Prince Charming early on, his performance truly took off during the reprise of ‘Crazy in Love’ when he gives an astonishing vocal.

An extremely well produced and thought-out production, which fills the panto shaped void in our lives this Christmas.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Jenny Ell

Kidzania’s Cinderella is available to stream until Sunday 3 January here.