Cinderella is probably the world's most popular pantomime, fairy story and all round favourite Princess. Even today people describe that 'Cinderella moment' of finding the perfect dress for an occasion such as a ball or wedding.

Although the original Cinderella fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm is quite macabre the pantomime version tends to stick to the more 'Disney' version of the tale.

Cinderella is born of a noble family but sadly loses her Mother very young - although she is hugely loved by her Father, he makes a poor choice in his second marriage and then promptly dies himself leaving her with a Wicked Stepmother and the two Ugly Sisters, who are both so ugly that they are played by men on the stage.

Whilst her stepmother lavishes attention on her own daughters and absolutely spoils them - perhaps through jealousy as Cinderella is an extraordinary beauty and full of grace, poor Cinderella is forced to become the family's servant and now spends her days working, cooking and cleaning.

One day an invitation to a grand ball arrives for all the ladies of the household. The Prince of the kingdom is at an age where it is time to marry and so the King has requested that all the elligble young ladies of the kingdom attend the palace so that he may choose a wife. Whilst the ugly sisters and the stepmother work themselves into a frenzy - convinced that one of them will most likely be chosen, Cinderella resigns herself to the fact that although she hopes she could go to the ball she will probably be left behind. As she despairs however a Fairy Godmother shows herself, promising that Cinderella shall go to the ball! She fashions a beautiful carriage out of a pumpkin, footmen out of mice and then transforms Cinderella's dowdy work clothes into a beautiful ball gown fit for a Princess. Before Cinderella leaves though she is given strict instructions that she must return before the clock strikes twelve as that is when the magic will end and Cinderella will transform back into her usual self.

Cinderella has a fabulous time at the ball and manages to totally enchant the Prince - he chooses to dance with her and only her for the whole night, making the ugly sisters exceptionately jealous of the mysterious young lady. However Cinderella loses track of time and is forced to flee as the clock begins to strike midnight - leaving a glass slipper behind in her haste to leave the palace.

The next day the Prince sets out to find who the mysterious young woman was as he has fallen in love and wishes to marry her. With only a glass slipper left behind as a clue he embarks on a mission to make every lady who attended the ball try on the slipper in the hopes that he will find The One.

When they finally arrive at Cinderella's home she is banished upstairs by the stepmother so that she does not have a chance to try on the shoe. Both the ugly sisters fight over the shoe horrendously - and in some productions even break it, however somehow Cinderella manages to escape back downstairs and is able to produce the other shoe - putting it on to show that it fits perfectly!

The show has a happy ending for Cinderella who marries Prince Charming and goes with him to live at the castle - and although she chooses to forgive her wicked stepmother they are forced to live out the rest of their days in disgrace.