Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre

Fairytales will be reinvented this summer as a drastically different version of Cinderella comes to the West End. And there are some especially talented fairy godmothers (and fathers) bringing this new production to life.

The show is based on an original idea by Emerald Fennell, the Emmy-nominated writer behind Killing Eve season two and Oscar-winning film Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan. Musical Theatre maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita) is is writing a new score. And lyrics are from David Zippel, who was part of the Oscar-nominated song-writing team in Disney's Hercules and Mulan, and also conquered Broadway with City of Angels and The Woman in White.

This Cinderella is billed as 'a complete reinvention of the classic fairytale', with Andrew Lloyd Webber adding 'Emerald Fennell has written something truly exciting and original'. Considering Fennell's track record for fearless women and thrilling plot twists, we're hoping for a feminist and fun inversion of the Prince Charming, rags to riches tropes.

Carrie Hope Fletcher stars as Cinderella. The multi award winner brings musical theatre clout from Heathers, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins, but Fletcher's star power goes beyond her impressive vocals and acting: as a prolific writer of children's fiction and a vociferous advocate for body positivity, she's among the top 100 influencers in the UK (according to the 2019 Sunday Times Influencer List).

Ivano Turco plays Prince Sebastian and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt the evil Stepmother. Georgina Castle and Laura Baldwin star as Cinderella’s spiteful stepsisters Marie and Adele, and Gloria Onitiri comes to the rescue as the Godmother. Reigning over them all is Rebecca Trehearn as the Queen.

Judging from the stompy boots and grungy eyeliner in the promotional images for the show, Fletcher's Cinderella won't follow the saccharin sweet princess formula. But the story's essential moral - have courage and be kind - remains relevant and leaves plenty of room for a fun, feminist interpretation.