Scottish Ballet: Cinders!

Scottish Ballet: Cinders!

A dazzling Cinderella story

Scottish Ballet’s playful retelling of the Cinderella story returns to surprise and delight audiences.

In Cinders!, the classic gets a romantic twist: on some nights, Cinders is a woman swept off her feet by her Prince; on others, a man swept off his feet by his Princess. In this revival, we’re adding new possibilities – some performances will feature a female Cinders meeting her Princess.

Set at the turn of the 20th century in Cinders’ family-run emporium, life is sweet until tragedy strikes, leaving Cinders an orphan. Enter the new proprietor, Mrs Thorne, an intimidating mother of three ghastly children. Treating Cinders with contempt, they turn the store into a garish version of its former self. When the Royal Ball is announced, hilarity, excitement and chaos ensue as the Thorne family begin their frenzied preparations to attend.

Taking refuge in an enchanted rose garden, Cinders is magically transformed into a vision of sophistication and beauty, worthy of charming everyone at the ball. As the story of Cinders and the Thornes unfolds, who will live happily ever after?

Choreographed by Christopher Hampson, with opulent costumes and sets by Elin Steele, plus Prokofiev’s irresistibly tuneful music performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Cinders! is everything you love about the enchanted fairytale – made sparkling, fresh and new.

We recommend keeping casting information a surprise – it’s all part of the magic on the day! – but for those who would like to know which version of the show they are going to see, casting information is available here.

Director and Choreographer: Christopher Hampson CBE
Designer: Elin Steele
Video Designer: Hayley Egan
Lighting Designer: Lawrie McLennan
Composer: Sergei Prokofiev

★★★★★ ‘This new Cinders delights and engages all ages’ The Herald

★★★★ ‘Inspired and witty … a surprising delight’ The Telegraph

★★★★ ‘Simply beautiful … a festive treat’ The Guardian

★★★★ ‘Entertaining and intelligent … brimming with humour’ The Stage

Group discounts available:

GROUPS 8+ – £2 off and 1 in 15 free
SCHOOLS – £13.50 tickets and 1 adult free for each 10 children
DANCE SCHOOLS – £13.50 tickets for under 18s and 1 adult free for each 10 children

FAMILY TICKET  (Groups of 4, max 2 adults) – £100, mid/rear stalls and upper circle only

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the production for all the family?
Absolutely – it’s a beautiful fairytale for the festive season that everyone can enjoy!

Will audiences know in advance which gender the Cinders character will be?
Yes, if they want to! We will list which one of the following formations they will experience on which date (but please note, due to circumstances out with our control, such as a dancer being unwell or injured, this can change), or they could keep it as a surprise!

Which version of Cinders will I be able to see in my city?
In Aberdeen, Scottish Ballet is presenting three of the four formations:
Cinders meets her Prince, Cinders meets his Princess, and Cinders meets her Princess
For reasons of logistics and technical time on stage, Scottish Ballet is unable to bring all versions to every venue. They aim to bring more pairings to venues next time they tour Cinders in a few years.

Will there be any same-gender pairings?
Yes, we’re delighted to be including a number of same-gender pairings in this year’s Cinders tour, as per the formations above, where Cinders meets her charming Princess, or Cinders meets his charming Prince.

Will the choreography differ?
Some small sections will, and you might notice some interesting nuances in movement/delivery, which is something we’re enjoying exploring. Look out for content being posted on Scottish Ballet’s social media, exploring this more.

Book your table at The Terrace

His Majesty’s Theatre’s bar and café, The Terrace is open and we are ready to welcome you in!

Bookings are open for everyone, whether you are attending a show at the theatre or not. You can complement and enhance your theatre experience with light lunches before a matinee or meals with an evening show. Or pop in for a coffee, or a drink and enjoy the view.