Romance blossoms at Dublin panto

Prince Charming really did find love at the panto this year – but it wasn’t Cinderella who stole his heart, it emerged today.

Romance has blossomed at the Lyons Tea Panto, Cinderella in Dublin’s Liberty Hall Theatre since it kicked off in December.

Prince Charming, played by 25-year-old Niall Sheehy, revealed it was not Cinderella who caught his eye but dancer Anna Leigh, 20, from Drogheda, Co Louth.

After the couple met in rehearsals last November, Niall revealed they were the brunt of several pranks due to his role as Prince Charming.

Dressed in glitzy gold costumes, the couple admitted it was the over-the-top Panto stage clothes that first attracted them to each other.

Niall, from Bray, Co Wicklow, said: “The costumes had no negative effects, simply a positive effect.”

The couple said they were delighted with the reactions from the audience to the Panto this season.

Extra performances of the Panto, directed by Bachelor’s Walk star Simon Delaney, on January 26, 27 and 28 were added on to cope with the massive demand.

Other characters in the Panto include TV3 presenter Alan Hughes as Sammy Sausages, Linda Martin as the Wicked Stepmother, Fair City actor David Mitchell and You’re A Star finalist Sinead Mulvey as Cinderella.

Niall said: “It has been extended for an extra few nights, as it has been sold out.”

He said acting in Panto is very different, adding: “It is the only thing in the world, where if something goes wrong it adds to the show.”