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# Cinderella Remixed: Brighton’s alternative panto boasts cast made up of cream of Brighton’s queer scene
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/cinderella-remixed-brightons-alternative-panto-boasts-cast-made-up-of-brightons-queer-scene/
- Published: 2024-01-03T14:47:16.000Z
- Updated: 2024-01-03T14:48:04.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler gets ready for drag stars, solo singers and boy dancers
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, Musical Theatre, Previews, Theatre, Alfie Ordinary, Allan Cardew, Allan Jay, Billie Gold, Ironworks Studios, Jason Sutton, Kara van Park, Sandra, Sussex Beacon

Writer, director, actor **Allan Cardew**’s association with Brighton’s alternative pantomime goes back to 1975, and this month for the first time he will be its producer as the panto comes back after a few years’ break.

***Cinderella: Remixed***, about to go into rehearsal, boasts some of the cream of Brighton’s queer talent, plus a few visitors. Leading the cast as the teenage ingenue virgin is **Miss Jason** (aka Jason Sutton). He’s joined by drag royalty **Kara Van Park** as Baroness Birdcage, and **Mary Golds** and **Sandra** as the two evil sisters, with **Billie Gold** as Fairy Gold.

**Alfie Ordinary** will play Butters, with local singing sensation **Jason Lee Howlett** as Prince Harry, Scottish singing star **Allan Jay** as Dandini, and Brighton Academy’s **Luke Lunn** and **Rosen Newsome** as ensemble and dancers.

Over a post-Christmas flat white Allan told me about the history of the show. “It began in 1967, under the direction of **Tony Stewart**. My first appearance was in 1975, when I played the Genie of the Fly Button, and later directed two of them, before Covid hit.”

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/img_2234-scaled-e1704293164131.jpg)

Allan Cardew

This year the directorial baton has passed to **Paul Lawrence Thomas** (aka Cosmic), who’s adapted a generic panto text to suit the actual performers he has cast. Allan said: “we’ve got dancers, we’ve got a live band and a new venue – the **Ironworks Studios**.”

The show has a proud history of fundraising for the LGBTQ+ community and this year’s beneficiary is local HIV charity **Sussex Beacon**, with a special after-show entertainment on **January 25** to raise extra funds.

I asked Allan if the fact the cast is made up of strong, well-known and well-liked soloists might create some tension. He was adamant: “we are stronger because they’re all soloists in their own right. We’ve got some experienced legit panto performers. They will make a terrific ensemble. There’ll be twists and plenty of surprises.”

Allan admits it’s a risky business producing a show in a relatively small venue for a short run, but is hoping if it’s a success that he can mount other productions during the coming year, adding: “we’re trying to raise as much as we can for the Sussex Beacon and so far advance tickets are doing well.”

***Cinderella: Remixed* runs from January 24-28 at the Ironworks Studios in Brighton. Tickets** [**HERE**](https://www.ironworks-studios.co.uk/24th-28th-january-brighton-alternative-pantomime-cinderella-remixed?ref=scenemag.co.uk)