Home stage debut wish granted for County Durham actor

Charlotte Bradley's childhood wish has come true as she gets set to play Cinderella at her local theatre - Gala Durham.

Twenty-five-year-old Charlotte Bradley moved away from her home in Waterhouses, near Esh Winning, to study acting and has since taken on various roles on both stage and screen.

This month, she'll be returning to County Durham to make her debut at Gala Durham, where she has been cast as the lead character in the venue's spellbinding pantomime, Cinderella.

Charlotte is excited to don her ballgown and charm audiences at the theatre, which we run.

A new take on a classic

Following its acclaimed production of Alice in Wonderland, Gala Durham will offer a new take on the oldest fairy tale of all time when Cinderella opens on Thursday 23 November.

In the magical land of No-Place Hall, audiences are invited to step into the enchanted world of Cinderella, where they'll meet the hardworking and clever Ella or 'Cinderella' as her evil stepmother Lady Longbottom calls her.

With the help of her outrageous and funny Fairy Godmother, her best friend Buttons and Pipsqueak the mouse, find out if Ella will find the love of her life or spend the rest of it running around after her wickedly hilarious stepsisters Monophobia and Philophobia.

'It's so exciting!'

Charlotte studied Performing Arts at New College Durham when she was 16 and completed her degree at Newcastle College. She then trained at the London School of Musical Theatre and has starred in an episode Channel 4's BAFTA award-winning series, How to Be a Person.

"My mum used to be a steward at Gala Durham when I was little," Charlotte said. "She used to take me to see all of the pantos there and I actually went to see Cinderella when I was five years old.

"It's so exciting that five-year-old me went to see Cinderella and now 25-year-old me gets to play her. I cannot wait to spend this Christmas on stage at Gala Durham."

Showcasing home-grown talent

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, our Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "This modern re-telling of the classic story of Cinderella is full of magic and excitement. Audiences can expect breath-taking dance routines, sing along music and unforgettable moments as Gala Durham brings this timeless tale to life.

"We're proud to welcome Charlotte to our stage. It's fantastic for our venues to be able to showcase such great examples of home-grown talent."

Cinderella, written by Gary Kitching and directed by Rachel Glover, runs from Thursday, 23 November to Saturday, 6 January at Gala Durham.