Kids
Thursday, 05 February 2009 09:02
Written by Ned Kelly

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Cinderella sing-along pantomime hits the Shanghai stage
The Ugly Sisters will get everybody singing along to reworded versions of classic tunes

It's February, which means panto season is behind you. All together now: "Oh no it isn't!" And right you are, kids, because a production of Cinderella will be staged this month at Dulwich College.

The show is the brainchild of young British director Zsuzsi Lindsay, who has brought Zuloo productions with her all the way to Shanghai from St. Andrews University, Scotland, where she set it up with two fellow students in 2001. "From the outset, Zuloo has been about having fun, giving back to the community, giving people the chance to give things a go and fostering artistic innovation," she explains. "As soon as I arrived in China, I craved some community involvement and some theater, so decided to pitch the idea of a pantomime. The response was huge."

She quickly assembled a 22-strong cast, made up of an eclectic mix that includes expat professionals, local

language students and school kids, all the way down to 4-year-old Charley Grimshaw, who plays a mouse. Everybody involved is volunteering their time for nothing, and the money to set up the production has come from donations from generous individuals and Zsuzsi herself, with two-thirds of the profits made from the show going to Shanghai Heart to Heart and Shanghai Sunrise charities, as well as an educational trip to the zoo for the children of the bilingual migrant school that Zsuzsi works at. The remaining third will support future Zuloo productions.

In addition to ticket sales, money will be raised through an auction during the interval of the Saturday night performance, with all contributions gratefully received by Zsuzsi, whose future plans with Zuloo will be music to the ears of the city's thwarted thespians. "We strive to support community theater, ensuring that there are regular productions for those who have a passion for theater but have not chosen to pursue it as their career," she enthuses. "We are aiming to put together an international theater festival in Shanghai for 2009/2010 and will be looking to form partnerships with local professional theaters to ensure space for future productions for both China-based groups and those from abroad."

At the heart of the production is a family team, with Zsuzsi's fiancé, Simon (who, fittingly, she met at a ball) fulfilling the role of musical director and stage manager, and her mother, Marianne, designing the costumes, which put a Chinese spin on the classic pantomime look. The title role is taken by 15-year-old Dulwich College student Jess Barton, and audience participation is ensured by the Ugly Sisters who, along with the usual slapstick shenanigans, will encourage everybody to sing along to reworded versions of classic tunes such as 'Y.M.C.A,' 'We Are Family,' 'I Will Survive' and 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.' So  whether you're a Brit looking for your panto fix or a first-timer to this most interactive of stage entertainments, a ball of a time is guaranteed for all. 

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