The magic of Cinderella will be captured in dance and in song at this year’s Watford Palace Theatre pantomime.

Welsh actress Bethan Walker is stepping into those prized glass slippers in her first pantomime.

“I’ve mainly done Shakespeare and straight plays before,” says Bethan. “There have been musical elements to shows but not as full blown as this. I get to sing and dance a fair bit, I’m an all-rounder. I trained as a dancer and took part in lots of youth theatre productions, which has helped for this role.”

Director Kate Saxon saw Bethan earlier this year when the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate was playing Puck at Shakespeare’s Globe.

“I played Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream the previous summer and Puck this year on tour, which was a huge challenge.

“Puck was done in the style of Sally Bowles in Cabaret, which is very different to Cinderella, but I’ve learned a lot for this job about audience participation and how to react to it.”

Bethan, who commutes daily from Queens Park to rehearse for the show, has also had lots of help from her fellow cast members, some of whom are also new to the nudge, nudge, wink, wink style of acting but others are seasoned actors of musical theatre.

“Even the way they hold themselves offstage and prepare is a good education, it’s great being in such a good company of experienced actors.”

Bethan’s early experience has included a part in Torchwood.

“It was a few years ago. I played Annie, a pizza delivery girl who got killed and her body was taken over by a cyberwoman and got shot five times in the end. It was my first TV role out of college and we filmed it in my last month of term in Cardiff. It was great, there was lots of high-tech stuff going on.”

The Palace panto is well-known for its lavish sets, and theatre designer Cleo Pettitt has pulled out all the stops.

“It’s one of the most beautiful sets I’ve ever seen,” says Kate. “They’ve really gone to town and made it as elaborate and as much of a fairytale setting as it could possibly be.”

Cinderella’s ball gown, apparently, also breaks the mould. Gone is the traditional meringue in favour of something a bit classy.

“It’s a sleek and feminine costume, that’s very flattering.”

Kate’s aunts, uncles and grandparents will be in the audience during the run, and her parents and sister have already booked tickets for Christmas Eve and will drive her back to Wales after the show. Her boyfriend will be among the first to see the show on Saturday.

So what does Cinders hope for the New Year?

“She wants to keep her Prince Charming because now she’s found him she doesn’t want to let him go.”

Cinderella runs from Saturday, November 28 to Saturday, January 2. Tickets: 01923 225671