Local children bring panto magic to Chelmsford Theatre with clever Cinderella lines
Three local children will help welcome audiences to Cinderella at Chelmsford Theatre this Christmas after winning the venue’s 2026 Voice of Panto competition.
Thea, Lucy and Charlotte on stage at Chelmsford Theatre.
Lucy, aged 11; Thea, aged 10; and Charlotte, aged 6, won over theatre staff with their witty one-liners about glass slippers, pumpkin carriages and ticking clocks! Their winning messages will play in the theatre’s bars and foyer before each performance of Cinderella this festive season, giving visitors a welcome with a little extra sparkle.
Young voices add their own personal touch to panto
Now in its third year, Voice of Panto gives young writers the chance to put their own creative stamp on the theatre’s annual pantomime. The competition invites local children aged 5-11 to have a go at rewriting Chelmsford Theatre’s pre-show announcements for its annual panto. This year’s winners brought their own personal touch to the panto experience, with lines inspired by their favourite elements of the classic fairytale.
Lucy, Thea and Charlotte recorded their welcome lines to be played to audiences this panto season.
The theatre’s Creative Engagement Officer, Megan Crisp, said Lucy, Thea and Charlotte’s lines stood out amidst strong competition:
““Voice of Panto is a way for local children to help shape our annual pantomime. It gives them a chance to have a play with words, share their ideas and be a part of the welcome our audiences receive.
Megan Crisp, Creative Engagement Officer, Chelmsford Theatre
“This year, we had a record number of entries for the competition and some wonderfully imaginative writing coming through. Choosing just three winners was really difficult, but Lucy, Thea and Charlotte’s lines stood out for their bold humour and clever nods to the Cinderella story. I hope they enjoy hearing their own voices in the theatre this Christmas and feel proud of how they’ve helped bring a little extra magic to panto this year.”
A chance to see behind the scenes at the theatre
After their lines were selected by competition judges, Lucy, Thea and Charlotte were invited to the theatre to record their messages in a specially designed sound booth on the main stage.
The children recorded their winning lines in a temporary recording studio on Chelmsford Theatre's main stage.
The recording session gave the children a glimpse of the work that happens before audiences arrive; taking their ideas from the page to the final recordings visitors will hear during their panto trip.
Chelmsford Theatre’s Director, Rhys Thomas, says it’s an opportunity for young families to experience a different side of their local theatre:
““Panto is often the first taste of live theatre for many young children, and opportunities like our Voice of Panto competition help young families to build a deeper connection with us. There is so much that goes into creating a pantomime beyond what audiences see on stage. By inviting our winners in to record their own announcements, we’re able to give them a glimpse into this backstage world and show how ideas develop to become part of the final panto experience. I can’t wait for them to hear their own creative lines played aloud in the theatre when our panto opens later this month.”
Rhys Thomas, Chelmsford Theatre Director
Hear the winners’ messages at Cinderella this Christmas
Cinderella runs at Chelmsford Theatre from Friday 27 November 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027. If you’ve already booked tickets for this year’s production, then you can look forward to hearing Lucy, Thea and Charlotte’s recorded messages in the bars and foyer before each performance. If you haven’t booked your seats yet, then act fast! With three weeks to go until panto launches, over 75% of seats are already sold.
Find out more and book tickets for Cinderella on the Chelmsford Theatre website.
