Mina Anwar is to play the Fairy Godmother in the Derby Arena pantomime Cinderella at Christmas 2024.
The Lancashire actress is no stranger to Derby as she appeared in Peter Pan at the Assembly Rooms in 2006. She said, “I’m looking forward to seeing how the city has changed. Who wouldn’t want to be a fairy godmother and make some wishes come true? I know Little Wolf have some very big plans for this year so I’m excited to see all the spectacular things in store for the Arena.”
Producer Little Wolf Entertainment has announced that Morgan Brind, who played the lead role in Mother Goose in 2023, will be one of the Ugly Sisters alongside Roddy Peters, who was Baron Wasteland in the 2023 panto.
Derby actor Kristian Cunningham, who took the title role in Aladdini n 2022 and played Benedict in Mother Goose in 2023, will be Buttons in Cinderella. Nicola Martinus-Smith, who played Princess Amira in Aladdin, will return as Dandini.
New arrivals to Derby Arena include Lucy Munden (Cinderella), Marisa Harris (Wicked Stepmother) and Charles Ruhrmund (Prince Charming).
Alan Bowles and Morgan Brind of Little Wolf said, “we had the pleasure of seeing Mina Anwar in the original cast of the Sheffield Crucible production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie a few years ago. We knew we’d really like to work with her, so we’re absolutely delighted she’ll be adding her magic touch to Cinderella.
“This year’s cast feels like a winning combination of new and returning faces who we know our loyal Derby audience will love. Cinderella will be a truly spectacular feast of magic, comedy and romance.”
Cinderella will run at Derby Arena from Friday 3 until Tuesday 31 December.