Cinderella will go to the ball with a little help from a white Shetland pony, in this year’s Harpenden Christmas pantomime.

Herts Advertiser: Honey Fine will appear in Cinderella, this year's pantomime at Harpenden Public HallsHoney Fine will appear in Cinderella, this year's pantomime at Harpenden Public Halls (Image: Archant)

The X Factor’s Honey Fine, best known as a member of the harmony group Mon Amie, will be putting on her crystal slippers for the first performance of the pantomime on December 10 at Harpenden Public Halls. She will be joined by impressionist and comedian, Jess Robinson, who plays the Fairy Godmother, children’s TV star Luke Roberts as Buttons, who is seen daily on CITV and Cartoonito, and Steve Leeds from Go!Go!Go! on Nick Jr.

Director Chris Law of Act One Pantomime, who also takes on the role of Baron Hardup, has described this year’s performance to be both “magical and traditional”.

He said: “It’s a great family show, but there are some classic puns that you need to be of a certain age to understand.

“We have a white Shetland pony, a real one, not just someone dressed up, that comes to pull Cinderella’s coach to the ball.”

Herts Advertiser: Shetland pony Snoopy will appear in Harpenden pantomime CinderellaShetland pony Snoopy will appear in Harpenden pantomime Cinderella (Image: Archant)

The infamous ugly sisters will be played by Ernie Almond, of BBC 3 Counties Radio, and St Albans-based actor, Simon Nicholas, who will both don a frock to get the kids laughing.

Ernie said: “We’re the pretty sisters and some of the joke is that the kids know we are men, but they kind of believe that the adults think we are women and that they are in on the joke.”

Jess Robinson, who has appeared on The Impressions Show and The One Show, will be utilising her talent by giving the Fairy Godmother a number of different voices throughout the performance.

She said: “I’ve got about 50 different impressions, singing and speaking, so I switch from one voice to another.

“I do anything from Alex Jones from The One Show, some Holly Willoughby and then lots of singers like Jessie J and Shirley Bassey.”

This is first time that Luke has played Buttons, as opposed to his usual role as Prince Charming, but he says he is really looking forward to it: “All the jokes the kids don’t get, the adults will, so it will just go over their heads and they’ll smile and wave.

“I was a bit nervous because I’ve never played him before, but I’m with such veterans this year.”

Simon added: “What we really deliver here in Harpenden is rock-solid, fun, family, hilarious entertainment.”

Cinderella will run until December 22 and for more information and tickets, click here.