Two Doors Down’s Joy McAvoy and River City star Sally Howitt have joined the cast of this year’s HMT pantomime, Cinderella, joining the previously announced line up which includes Louie Spence, Alan McHugh, Laura Main and Paul-James Corrigan.
The timeless tale of the girl in rags and finding the slipper that fits, this year’s production of Cinderella will see the traditional story brought up-to-date, with the role of Ugly Sisters, traditionally played by men, becoming Wicked Stepsisters, played by Joy McAvoy and Sally Howitt.
Glasgow born Joy McAvoy is best known for her extensive roles in both film and television including this year’s hit adventure movie Avengers: Endgame alongside Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth, Victor Frankenstein opposite her brother James McAvoy and the hit BBC Scotland sitcom Two Doors Down, in which she co-starred alongside HMT panto alumnus, Elaine C Smith.
Joy’s other recent television appearances include Channel 4’s No Offence, How Not to Live Your Life for the BBC, River City for BBC Scotland and Personal Affairs for BBC3. On stage she played Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hermione in Andromache and Galina in Brezchnev’s Children and various other roles for Langside Theatre Company.
River City regular Sally Howitt has also been a mainstay on television for a number of years, best-known for her role as streetwise survivor Scarlett O’Hara for over fifteen years. In addition to life in Shieldinch, Sally has appeared in Outlander, Taggart, Trial & Retribution, Bad Boys, Rab C Nesbitt and The High Life. In 2015 she starred in the television movie West End Girls, which she also co-wrote. A regular in pantomime, Sally has appeared in numerous festive productions including Beauty and the Beast and Dick Whittington.
Joy and Sally join the previously announced cast which includes Pineapple Dance Studios star Louis Spence as Dandini, HMT dame in residence Alan McHugh as The Baroness, Call the Midwife star Laura Main as The Fairy Godmother and River City and Gary: Tank Commander funny man Paul-James Corrigan as Buttons.
Aberdeen audiences shall go to the ball this Christmas as Cinderella transforms from rags to riches, outwits her Wicked Stepsisters and with the help of her hilarious friend Buttons and her Fairy Godmother, wins the heart of the dashing Prince Charming.
Cinderella will feature all of the ingredients of the perfect pantomime; a fabulous cast and orchestra, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery and special effects, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses for all the family to enjoy. Cinderella will once again be produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the team behind the annual must-see HMT pantomime.
Aberdeen Performing Arts chief executive, Jane Spiers, said: “We are so excited for this year’s spectacular HMT pantomime, Cinderella.
“Louie Spence will make the perfect Dandini, and his energy and enthusiasm will fit right in with all the fun of panto. It will be a wonderful treat to have Laura Main back in Aberdeen, as well as our great friend Alan McHugh and we are big fans of Paul-James Corrigan already.
“The addition of Joy and Sally to the already star-studded cast just makes it even more special and this year is shaping up to be one to remember.
“We can’t wait to welcome them all to HMT.
The clock is ticking! Don’t miss your chance to see Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes. Book your tickets to the Ball today! Available online at www.aberdeeneprformingarts, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office in person at His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall or the Lemon Tree.
Joy McAvoy and Sally Howitt