Cinders! steps out
Scottish Ballet’s Cinderella story returns for Xmas 2026
Boy can meet boy and girl meet girl in Scottish Ballet’s latest iteration of their hugely popular 2023 ballet Cinders! which returns to the Festival Theatre for Christmas 2026. Tickets go on general sale from Friday 13 March.
Scottish Ballet took a step beyond the usual in 2023, with Christopher Hampson’s take on Cinderella, set in Cinders’ emporium at the turn of the 20th century. On some nights a female Cinders met her Prince, on others, a male Cinders found love with his Princess.
Bruno Micchiardi as Cinders and Jessica Fyfe as Princess Louisein Scottish Ballet’s Cinders! 2023. Pic: Andy Ross.
For the revival, Hampson has gone a step further. Both male and female Cinders could be swept off their feet by either a Prince or a Princess. However, while audiences in the original production were not told which pairing they would see, the 2026 revival will reveal the pairings to audiences – if they want.
Having created the narrative so that audiences would either see the story of a female or a male Cinders in 2023, Hampson says that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“Ultimately, did it really matter when the story being told is one of an orphan searching for a way to a better life and finding a soulmate along the way?” he asks.
“Approaching the production for a revival the question arose: Should we cast a male Cinders meeting his Prince and a female Cinders meeting her Princess? Ultimately, it is the wrong question. It’s not ‘Should we?’ it’s more ‘Why wouldn’t we?’.”
The result, as Scottish Ballet says, is “a beautiful fairytale for the festive season that everyone can enjoy!”
Bruno Micchiardi as Cinders in Scottish Ballet’s Cinders! 2023. Pic: Andy Ross.
The production will open at the Festival Theatre on Friday 11 December 2026, running to Christmas Eve, before transferring to the Glasgow Theatre Royal, where it will play from Wed 30 December to January 16. It will then play nights at His Majesties, Aberdeen (Wed 20-Sat 23 Jan) and Eden Court, Inverness (Wed 27 – Sat 30 Jan 2027).
Scottish Ballet say that for reasons of logistics and technical time on stage, they are unable to bring all versions to every venue. Glasgow will get all four, but it will be just three of the other venues. In Edinburgh, Cinders will meet her Prince, her Princess and his Princess.
The company will list which one of the formations will appear on which date on a separate webpage to the main casting information. Those who wish to attend a particular pairing can make then their plans, but there won’t be spoilers for those who wish to be surprised.
Prokofiev’s rich score
Using Prokofiev’s rich score, performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Hampson takes the bones of the traditional ballet and moves Cinders’ family-run emporium. Life is sweet until tragedy strikes, leaving Cinders an orphan.
No wicked step-mother, but a proprietor: one Mrs. Thorne, an intimidating mother of three ghastly children, Flossie, Morag and Tarquin. Treating Cinders with contempt, they turn the store into a garish version of its former self.
Claire Souet as Flossie, Aaron Venegas as Tarquin and Aisling Brangan as Morag in Scottish Ballet’s Cinders! 2023. Pic: Andy Ross.
There is still a Royal Ball, of course. Its announcement leads to much hilarity, excitement and chaos as the Thorne family begin their frenzied preparations to attend.
Taking refuge in an enchanted rose garden, Cinders is magically spun into a vision of sophistication and beauty, worthy of charming everyone at the ball…
Speaking of the new choreography, Hampson said: “Developing the ability to interpret these roles even more is incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to give genuine opportunities for dancers and audiences alike to see themselves represented on stage.”
Read Christopher Hampson here: Casting Magic, where he discusses how gender fluid casting is an indication of a greater evolution in ballet, as it takes on the complexities of modern family life.
Cinders! Listings
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT.
Friday 11 – Thursday 24 December 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm (Tue – Sat except Tue 15, Thu 24).
Mats Sat/Sun & daily from Thurs 17: 2.30pm; except Thu 24: 1.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here from 12 noon, Friday 13 March.
Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 3QA
Wednesday 30 Dec 2026 – Saturday 16 Jan 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm (Wed 30 & Tue – Sat from Jan 5)
Matinees: 2.30pm (Thurs, Sat, Sun, except 31 Dec).
1.30pm: Thurs 31 Dec.
Tickets and details: Book here from 10am Friday 13 March.
His Majesty’s Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen, AB25 1GL
Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 Jan 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Matinees: 2.30pm (Thurs, Sat).
Tickets and details: Book here from 10am Friday 13 March.
Eden Court Theatre, Bishops Rd, Inverness IV3 5SA
Wednesday 27 – Saturday 30 Jan 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Matinees: 2.30pm (Thurs, Sat)
Tickets and details: Book here from 10am Friday 13 March.
ENDS
