Union J star George Shelly will be making his pantomime debut as Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Orchard Theatre this Christmas.
Joining him will be pantomime legend Bobby Davro as Buttons, the Dancing on Ice reigning champion Regan Gascoigne as Dandini, and newcomer Ellie Jane Grant as Cinderella.
Dartford theatregoers can enjoy the classic fairy tale and see Cinderella transform from rags to riches, outwit her very ugly sisters, and with the help of her hilarious friend and one very magical fairy godmother, win the heart of the dashing Prince Charming.
More than 30,000 theatregoers attend the pantomime at The Orchard Theatre each festive season.
George Shelley first featured on our screens in 2012 on the X Factor as part of UK boyband Union J.
Since then, he has gone on to present Capital Breakfast alongside Dave Berry, finished runner-up in ITV’s fifteenth series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and has even appeared on ITV’s Benidorm and BBC3’s Murder in Successville.
More recently, George reunited with Union J for a sell-out performance at The London Palladium.
Bobby Davro is well-known for his television career which has seen him present his own series Bobby Davro on the Box, Bobby’s Sketch Pad, TV Weekly, Public Enemy Number One, Rock with Laughter and Run the Risk, and host 65 episodes of Winner Takes All.
He has also appeared in EastEnders playing the loveable rogue Vinnie Monks, featured on Dancing on Ice, and came 4th in Celebrity Big Brother.
Regan Gascoigne was crowned the champion of ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2022.
Regan trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and the Actors Centre, London and has appeared in many pantomimes during his career.
He appeared with Demi Lovato on The MTV Europe Music Awards as part of the Urban Voices Collective, The Nutcracker for English National Ballet at the London Coliseum and ITV’s Full Monty This Is Me.
Ellie Jane Grant, playing the lead role of Cinderella, is a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology.
Michael Harrison, Chief Executive of the UK’s biggest pantomime producer Crossroads Pantomimes, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing such a brilliant cast to Dartford this Christmas.
"George, Bobby, Regan and Ellie all bring with them immense talent and I already know that we’re in for a great Christmas at the Orchard Theatre.”
On the casting, Lorna Strawson, Theatre Director at The Orchard Theatre, said: “We are thrilled to have such an amazing line-up in Cinderella this year, with exceptional talent joining us from the across the worlds of music, comedy and dance.
“We can’t wait to see their performances on The Orchard Theatre stage for what will be an exciting visit to panto-land.”
You can get tickets here.
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