AN ACTOR who appeared in a Theatre Royal panto has been nominated for an acting award.

Max Mirza, who played Prince Charming in the 2023/2024 pantomime Cinderella, is in the running for Best Early Career Newcomer in the Great British Pantomime Awards 2024.

The awards are run by the UK Pantomime Association. During the pantomime season its judging panel of 70 judges visited 259 venues to see more than 728 performances across the country.

Hampshire Chronicle: Max Mirza as Prince CharmingMax Mirza as Prince Charming (Image: Ali Wright)

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The winners will be revealed at an event in Guildford on Tuesday, June 18.

Max trained at the ArtsEd performing arts school in London and had recently made his theatre debut in Roman Holiday at Theatre Royal Bath before taking on the role of Prince Charming.

He said: “I am so honoured to be nominated for this award and grateful to receive recognition for my role in what was an awesome show.”

Kirstie Mathieson, communications and development director at Play to the Crowd, which runs the Theatre Royal, said: ‘We are so thrilled for Max to be nominated in these national awards. Audiences loved his portrayal of the lovable, but slightly dim Prince, who, thanks to his side kick Dandini, eventually found his Princess!

“This is a wonderful accolade for Max to receive so early in his career – we will be keeping everything crossed for June 18.”

Hampshire Chronicle: L-R: Max Mirza, Millicent Blair and Ed ThorpeL-R: Max Mirza, Millicent Blair and Ed Thorpe (Image: Ali Wright)

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Cinderella was written by James Barry who had previously been nominated in the Great British Pantomime Awards for Best Script for the theatre’s pantomime, Dick Whittington 2019/20, while he and composer Simon Slater were nominees for the Musical Achievement Award for their original score for Beauty and the Beast, performed at the theatre in 2018/19.

The same creative team behind Cinderella are working with writer and director Robin Belfield towards this year’s pantomime at Theatre Royal WinchesterMother Goose.

It will be at the theatre from Saturday, November 30 to Sunday, January 5. Tickets for Mother Goose are currently on sale.