Regina Sparkles is getting ready to play Cinderella in London’s naughtiest adult panto
A famous Hull drag queen is set to see his name in lights in London’s West End after being revealed as the star of a new show. And this Sinderella story is no ordinary pantomime – it’s set to become the capital’s naughtiest adults-only panto!
Theatre company the Entertainment Providers are behind the new production of Sinderella at the prestigious Scala Theatre in the heart of the theatre district. The show is set to be packed with outrageous innuendos, audience participation and unexpected encounters.
And Hull’s very own Regina Sparkles is leading the cast as Cinderella alongside her Prince, Buttons and the Two Ugly Slappers. Rehearsals start soon on the production – which is set to be a pop-powered panto with anthem including Dancing Queen, Electric Dreams, It’s Raining Men and Like A Virgin – and Regina got to meet up with the rest of the cast this week. He said he can’t wait to get going on the production.
Regina said: “It’s actually a big move for me. It’s going to be London’s naughtiest panto so definitely for adults, not children!
“We had the press launch on Monday so it was the first time to meet all the cast, with lots of photos and interviews. We also had someone from the Terrence Higgins Trust, the charity which supports people with HIV and AIDS0. The charity is going to be part of the show, and we’ll be doing things like raffles to raise money for the charity.
“It was really exciting to meet everyone – I was beaming from ear to ear. We all bonded instantly which was amazing. My fairy godmother is from Huddersfield so we’ve got the two Yorkshire lasses together. And we can’t wait to get going.”
Regina will get the script soon, and is continuing to spread some glamorous cheer as his outgoing and bubbly character in the meantime. The East Hull-born star has been performing as the vivacious, voluptuous Regina Sparkles since 2018, after securing a business mentor from The Prince’s Trust.
Since then, he has hosted and starred at all manner of events in Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Leicester, alongside his own shows including performances in Hull called West End Meets Broadway. He also regularly DJs and attending Pride and LGBT+ events.
And he will be recognised by many as the 7ft drag queen who crashed a wedding at Hull Kingston Rovers ground in 2019, telling the bemused bride and groom that “It should have been me”.
Wearing a white wedding gown, a veil and holding a bouquet, Regina burst into Lyndsey and Rob Holgate’s wedding lip-syncing to the Gladys Knight song ‘It should have been me’, much to the mirth of the gathered guests.
That was back in 2019, when the video went viral – and Regina, who received a Civic Award from the Lord Mayor of Hull in 2022, revealed he’s gatecrashed around 10 weddings this year alone, creating tongue-in-cheek havoc at nuptials across the North!
“That was me!” he laughed. “And I must have done about 10 this year, in Manchester, Yorkshire and Leicester where I am now – I’m still in that same wedding dress I bought for £50 from a hospice charity shop in Market Weighton, turning up at weddings, shouting ‘Oi What about me?’ before beating up the groom.
“It’s usually the bride or best man who books me, and there’s only one time it went wrong. The parents of the bride booked me – and afterwards they said ‘oh, the bride didn’t appreciate it’. They told me it wasn’t my fault but I fault awful. When I was performing I could see the bride and groom’s faces and could see they weren’t impressed, but everyone else was loving it and getting the cameras out.”
Regina’s biggest fan is his mum Tracy Taylor, who can’t wait to see the show.
He added: “Oh yes, she comes to everything and she’s going to come to London to see my show – she’s definitely still my number one fan and is over the moon.”
Simon Gross, Sinderella producer and pantomime veteran who also plays one of the ugly sisters, added that he hopes Hull panto fans will visit London to see Regina tread the boards.
He said: “Sinderella takes all the ingredients of the pantomimes we grew up with and know and love but takes the double entendre to the next level!
“All the bits that were knowingly laughed at by your Dad are exposed in all their glory in a fairy tale romp. This year we’re really looking forward to pushing the boundaries to bring you the most memorable and hilarious night out on the heart of London.”
Sinderella is at the Scala for a limited run from December 19 to January 11.
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