Black to join Ellison and Dennis in Liverpool Empire’s Cinderella

Published Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 18:15 by Chris High

Cilla Black is to star alongside Jennifer Ellison and Les Dennis in this year’s Liverpool Empire pantomime.

The First Family Entertainment production, which will also feature Ted Robbins, Peter Price and Roy Brandon, will see Liverpool favourite Black playing the Fairy Godmother, comedian Dennis as Buttons and former soap star Ellison as Cinderella, in the pantomime of the same name.

The role of Prince Charming is yet to be decided, with the producers looking out for a young Liverpool star in the making to fill the role.

“I’ve known I was going to involved in this for something like six months and it has been murder keeping it a secret,” said Black. “Everybody has been asking me what I’m going to be doing but I’ve not been able to tell anybody. I’m absolutely rubbish at keeping secrets but apart from my manager and eldest son Robin, not even my family knew.

“I’m so relieved now it’s all out in the open and I’m going to be making up for lost time by telling the world about it. I’m so excited to be back playing in Liverpool and I really can’t wait to get started.”

Dennis, who also appeared in a pantomime last Christmas, added: “I was in Cinders up in Sunderland last year and when I was contacted initially about this, it wasn’t even certain there was going to be pantomime this year. Then, when they rattled off the cast and asked if I wanted to be a part of it, I was like - ‘wow, definitely, count me in’. My first experience of theatre came at the Empire, watching Tommy Steele in Jack in the Beanstalk, so to come back home in this year of all years - the beginning of the future for Culture in Liverpool, hopefully - is just a dream come true and especially alongside some of Liverpool’s finest talent.”

Cinderella will run at the Liverpool Empire from December 11, 2008 to January 4, 2009. It will mark an end to the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.