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Video: The Cinderella
cast launch this year's Marlowe Panto.

by Chris Price

cprice@thekmgroup.co.uk

Dozens of shoppers gathered around
a stage in the Whitefriars shopping centre to see the stars of this
year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime.

Actor John Partridge, who plays
Christian in EastEnders, appeared alongside TV presenter Stephen
Mulhern and Marlowe panto favourites including Dave Lee and Ben
Roddy.

The cast assembled to promote this
year’s production of Cinderella, in which Partridge takes the role
of Prince Charming.

The 39-year-old performer - who
trained as a ballet dancer and had a long career in musical theatre
before TV success - wowed the crowd with a rendition of I’ve Gotta
Be Me by Sammy Davis Junior, before signing autographs.

Britain’s Got More Talent presenter
Mulhern, who will play Buttons, pulled members of the crowd on
stage to join him for a magic trick.

The event was hosted by the panto’s
Eastry-based producer Paul Hendy. This will be the first pantomime
staged in the new three-tiered 1,200 seater auditorium, which has
been closed for a £25 million rebuild since 2009.

Partridge said: “I’ve not been here
before but I’ve just been past the new theatre and it’s fantastic
to have a 21st century theatre in this old city.

“You have that fantastic blend of
new architecture with the already incredible old
architecture.

“I have never done pantomime before
and I have not done a stage show since 2007. Most people will know
me as Christian from EastEnders so I am excited to get back on
stage and flex my musical theatre muscles again.”

It is Mulhern’s third appearance in
a Marlowe theatre pantomime, having starred before in Snow White in
2008 and Aladdin in 2007.

He said: “I walked past the theatre
earlier and it looks amazing. I can’t wait to see inside.

“I keep coming back for Dave Lee
and I love the story of Cinderella. You get a good routine with the
part of Buttons and it is a nice story that everybody knows."

Herne-based comedian Dave Lee is
now appearing in his 16th Marlowe Theatre panto.

He said: “I only popped out for a
can of peas and I haven’t been back since.”

See more pictures in this
Thursday's Kentish Gazette.