Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney will be heading a

star-studded cast in this year’s Christmas pantomime at The

Bristol Hippodrome – Cinderella.

The First Family Entertainment million-pound production also

stars Michelle Collins, Cindy Beale in EastEnders, as the

Wicked Stepmother, and comic and soap star Bobby Davro as

Buttons.   Rooney’s wife, Jan, is also in the show as

the Fairy Godmother.

The glittering, million pound-production will be staged at The

Hippodrome over the Christmas season and new year.

The choice of panto  was revealed  in April and

tickets went on sale in May, but only now have the stars been

revealed.

Gary Roden, Hippodrome manager, said: “We are certain our

patrons will feel it’s been worth the wait now we have been

successful in securing not one but three celebrity stars – it

truly is fantastic news for the city.

“Tickets for Cinderella have already been selling well and we

are confident that now this superb casting has been announced,

everyone will be rushing to come to the

ball.”    

Mickey Rooney, 87, who plays Baron Hardup, has starred

alongside Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Judy Garland and

will enter the Guinness Book of Records this year as the actor

with the longest career on both stage and screen.

His first stage appearance was at the age of 15 months and he

has starred in more than 300 movies since 1926.

Michelle Collins plays The Wicked Stepmother and Bobby Davro

plays Buttons.

Starring alongside them as Cinderella is Nickelodeon’s Emma

Norton and George Wood as Prince Charming.

Rooney  said: “I am so delighted to be coming to the

Bristol Hippodrome this Christmas.

“Last year my wife Jan and I made our debut and had the time of

our lives in Sunderland.

“We love working in pantomime, it has all the ingredients for

spectacular and magical theatre.” 

“We can’t wait to return to England and have a rip-roaring

time.  I hope to see you all there.”

Davro said: “It is such an honour to appear at a theatre as

beautiful as The Bristol Hippodrome, and what a pantomime it is

going to be.

“Pantomime, for me, is the best form of theatre. Christmas

wouldn’t be the same without it. I am so looking forward to

working with Mickey and Michelle and I’m sure we are going to

have a ball.”

Kevin Wood, chief executive of First Family Entertainment,

said: “First Family Entertainment are proud to be bringing our

first pantomime production to Bristol with such a stellar

cast.

“Where else would you be able to see Hollywood legend Mickey

Rooney, top comedian Bobby Davro and TV femme fatale Michelle

Collins in one great show?

“That’s what makes pantomime so special – there is something

for everyone.

“This production of Cinderella is one of the biggest in the

country and our sets and costumes are sure to wow all

Bristolians.”

Cinderella runs from opens at The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday

December 12 to  January 11. For tickets, at  £15,

£23.50 and £25.50, call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2325.