Since August 1st 2012, the Broadway Barking theatre in Essex has been managed by Barking & Dagenham Council who have taken responsibility for the running of the theatre. The original Broadway Assembly Hall was remodelled and redesigned as Broadway Barking Theatre opening in September 2004 as a professional theatre and a home for Barking & Dagenham College’s Department of Performing Arts. In partnership with the College, the Council aims to continue Broadway Barking’s reputation as a progressive, innovative cultural hub.

So it is perhaps no surprise that Broadway Barking has become the first theatre in Britain to live stream the entire season, including rehearsals, backstage, pay per view shows, and the critically acclaimed annual pantomime. Of this development, Chris Mellor, Interim Creative Producer, says “Putting performance content online is the only way to make theatre fully accessible to anyone and put an end to the sair of exclusivity.”

Cinderella, which begins previewing at the Broadway on November 29th before officially opening on December 7th, is hoping to follow an unbroken string of hit pantomimes at the venue since 2004. This year, for their annual extravaganza, Broadway Barking has teamed up with locally based company Arc Theatre to bring together their combined expertise and ensure Cinderella is their greatest production yet.

A strong sense of community is what sets Broadway Barking aside from many of its peers, and in casting local dance studnt Amy Green in her first professional role Broadway Barking are certainly appealing to the local residents. The brand new script is provided by the Arc’s creative director Clifford Oliver, the score by Phil Gostelow, who has been involved with panto at the venue since 2004, and two choruses of community children will cement Cinderella’s credentials as a true people’s pantomime.

There will be four live streamed performances of Cinderella, each at just £2.99, but for the live experience, tickets are now available on the Broadway Barking website.

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