Audiences from across the Midlands are having a ball at Birmingham Hippodrome this festive season with the fairy godmother of all pantomimes; 'Cinderella'.  

Suzanne Shaw takes a break between scenes. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

Running until Sat 28 Jan, this year’s festive extravaganza features Wolverhampton-born singer and star of the West End stage, Beverley Knight, making her pantomime debut as the fabulous Fairy Godmother. Beverley stars alongside Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Danny Mac; Birmingham panto-favourite, Matt Slack; pop and television star, Suzanne Shaw; comedy duo, The Grumbleweeds and the most faaaaabulous Ugly Sisters in show business, Ceri Dupree and David Dale.

To celebrate the show’s residence in Birmingham, the Hippodrome has today released exclusive images shot from behind-the-scenes of this year’s show. Alongside the colourful front-of-house press shots you normally see, these candid photographs uniquely capture the glamour, hard work and anticipation of life backstage. 

Check a selection out below - you can find the full set of images by visiting our photo album. 

Cinderella runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 28th January. For tickets, call 0844 338 5000 or visit birminghamhippodrome.com.

David Dale puts on his make up. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

Gary Watson and Suzanne Shaw wait in the wings. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

Members of the ensemble get ready before the show. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

A member of the backstage crew looks after Matt Slack's dancing partner. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

The brains of the operation looks after the show backstage. Credit: Simon Hadley/Birmingham Hippodrome

Did You Know: 

• This year’s lavish production of Cinderella features a cast of 19 principle performers plus 2 teams of Panto Babes, all of whom are students of The Birmingham Stage School. Over the course of this year’s pantomime, the cast will spend over 180 hours on stage spread across 72 individual performances. 
• All of the magnificent sets featured in the show are produced by Qdos Entertainment, who have stores in Scarborough and Beverley. It is from here, that the company’s dedicated team of staff create and maintain their spectacular stage sets and over 100,000+ costumes for pantos up and down the UK. 
• Once the set arrives in Birmingham, it takes a total of 51 hours to unload, rig and assemble the individual components in time for the first tech rehearsal.
• During an average panto fit-up, our 18-strong team of stage crew will unload between 25-30 full waggons of scenery and props - the largest of these props are unloaded via lorry lift, which can hold 40 tonnes which is the same weight as 15 elephants. 
• During this year’s panto, The Qdos Wardrobe Department will process a whopping 370 loads of washing, consuming over 28kg of washing powder. 
• This year marks Matt Slack’s fifth year starring in a Birmingham Hippodrome panto. By the time this year’s production draws to a close, he will have clocked up over 360 appearances on the Birmingham Hippodrome stage. 
• Birmingham Hippodrome is home to some of the best backstage facilities in the UK. As well as being home to over 30 Dressing Rooms, a natural spring which pumps out 2-4 litres of water every minute and 5 lorry bays for unloading set and props, our Main Stage comes equipped with 81 fly bars for flying scenery in and out of the stage. Each of these fly bars is capable of supporting 150kg in weight, that’s the equivalent of a small family car! 
• Each performance of panto features a total of 800 lighting cues and over 80 Sound cues!
• This year’s production of Cinderella features a grand total of 135 costumes 109 wig/headdresses and 87 individual pairs of shoes. All of the flamboyant costumes that feature in this year’s production require regular maintenance between shows. 
• Ceri Dupree and David Dale, who play Ugly Sister Verruca and Voluptua in this year’s show, have a total of 19 individual costume changes in this year’s show. All of the flamboyant costume creations featured in Cinderella are housed backstage in two specially constructed quick change areas. The quickest ‘quick change’ this year takes 45 seconds backstage (which is Cinderella’s transformation from ball-gown to worker). There is also an onstage quick change that takes 6 seconds. 
• Cinderella’s two ball gowns weigh the equivalent of 67 bags of sugar each. 
• All of the cast of Cinderella are responsible for their own make up pre-show. All make-up and costume is prepared during the ‘half hour’ call, 35 minutes before the show goes up.