Hannah Ponting is our Cinderella at Hastings’ White Rock Theatre this Christmas – her second time as Cinders and her fifth panto in all.
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00:00 No, no, no.
00:00 - Good afternoon.
00:02 My name is Phil Hewitt,
00:03 group arts editor for Sussex Newspapers.
00:05 Now, what a pleasure to be speaking to Cinderella,
00:09 also known as Hannah Ponting.
00:11 Hannah, you are our Cinderella
00:13 at Hastings White Rock this Christmas.
00:15 Your first time in Hastings,
00:16 your second time as Cinderella.
00:18 Cinderella, it's the best panto part, isn't it, basically?
00:22 - I think it has to be, yeah, definitely.
00:25 - Well, what makes it such a good role, do you think?
00:28 - Well, she has such a journey throughout the story
00:32 and she gets to interact with every other character,
00:37 which is really fun as an actor
00:40 because you get to sort of make friendships
00:43 in the company with everyone
00:45 'cause you're the person
00:46 that sort of ties everybody all together.
00:49 So yeah, it's really, really good fun,
00:51 good character to play.
00:51 - And sometimes you see Cinderella
00:53 and she does seem a little bit downtrodden,
00:55 but yours is gonna be a feisty, curious, adventurous.
00:59 - Yeah, absolutely.
01:01 Yeah, she's sort of seeking out her dreams
01:04 and isn't afraid to go out there and get them.
01:08 And she's very forgiving.
01:11 Her sisters aren't very nice to her at all,
01:14 but she sort of takes it on the chin and stays positive.
01:18 And I think that's really great for her.
01:22 - And you are a repeat offender when it comes to panto.
01:25 This is number five, did you say, five or six?
01:27 - Yes, yeah, this is my fifth pantomime, so I love it.
01:31 - What drags you back to panto?
01:33 Why do you do it?
01:34 - Oh, it's just so much fun.
01:38 You know, we're storytelling,
01:39 but you've got silly gags, you've got slosh scenes,
01:43 you've got amazing costumes, lighting, songs, dancing.
01:47 It's just, and I think as well,
01:49 there's something for everyone in a pantomime.
01:51 You know, there's stuff for really young children,
01:54 but there's also, you know,
01:55 jokes that maybe only the adults will understand.
01:58 I just think it's, yeah, it's just so much fun.
02:01 - And you were saying really interestingly
02:03 about the truth of it.
02:04 You've got to play it true, haven't you?
02:07 - Yeah, definitely.
02:08 I think because if you don't believe
02:10 what your character is going through,
02:12 I don't think the audience will either.
02:14 And you know, because there is a clear storyline,
02:18 I think in Cinderella, and we wanna show that.
02:22 We wanna bring it to life and adding in
02:24 all these little fun things that pantomimes have.
02:27 - Fantastic.
02:28 Well, it's a lovely prospect.
02:30 I hope you have a fabulous time in Hastings,
02:32 your first time in Hastings with Cinderella.
02:35 Lovely to speak to you and happy Christmas when it comes.
02:37 - Yeah, Merry Christmas to you too.
02:40 Thank you.
02:40 - Thank you so much.
02:41 Good to speak to you.
02:43 - You too.