REVIEW - CINDERELLA ICE CREAM SELLER | BOLTON MUSEUM & LIBRARY | 27/05/2025

🎭 Cinderella Ice Cream Seller – A Sweet and Sparkly Family Musical 🍦💖

🍦 Welcome to the Parlour!

We all know the tale of Cinderella – glass slippers, a pumpkin coach, and a royal ball. But what if the glass slipper wasn’t for dancing, but for dessert? Enter Cinderella Ice Cream Seller, a deliciously inventive family musical from Little Seeds Music. Written and composed by the ever-talented David Gibb, and directed by Tristan Jackson-Pate, this twist on the classic fairytale swaps tiaras for toppings and tells the story from inside the charmingly retro Cinderella Ice Cream Parlour.

I took my two children, Alice (7) and Leo (6), along to see the show at Bolton Museum & Library. Let’s just say, we left with full hearts—and a serious craving for Ice Cream.

🍧 The Tasty Tale

This isn’t the Cinderella you’re used to. The show opens in the present day, inside Cinderella’s – a bustling ice cream parlour run by the rule-loving Caldwell (David Gibb) and his imaginative assistant Talvi (Lauren Harthorpe). While Caldwell insists on sticking rigidly to Cinderella’s original recipes (she's now an icon in the ice cream world), Talvi dreams of creating new flavours and shaking things up. One day, unable to resist the urge to innovate, Talvi secretly adds one of her own creations to the menu—without permission. Caldwell is less than impressed, and tensions bubble over.

To make matters even more complicated, Talvi has entered the prestigious New Flavours competition. The prize? A trip around the world tasting exciting new flavours, a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with Cinderella herself, and the chance to have your flavour added to the official menu and sold at every Cinderella's Ice Cream Parlour in the kingdom. But there’s a catch: your manager has to submit a glowing report on your work. And since Caldwell and Talvi don’t always see eye to eye, she’s understandably nervous.

As the tension in the parlour mounts, the pair launch into a whimsical retelling of how the Cinderella Ice Cream empire began.

Back in the day, Cinderella was stuck working in her aunties’ sweet shop. But these weren't just any aunties—they were mean, bossy, and downright awful, brilliantly represented using just a pair of hats and lots of clever character switching. Cinderella’s dream wasn’t to meet a prince or wear a pretty dress; all she wanted was to sell her own special ice cream at the royal ball. But just as she’s preparing her frozen masterpiece, her aunties destroy it.

Enter the Fairy Godfather, who thinks he knows exactly what she needs. He arrives with a pumpkin and some mice, ready to transform them into a carriage and horses—because, of course, he assumes she wants to go to the ball to find true love. He even offers her a dress and some shiny glass slippers to complete the look. But Cinderella quickly corrects him—she’s not interested in dancing, she wants to set up an ice cream stall! Amused and supportive, the Fairy Godfather hands over what he has.

Cinderella makes the most of it: she uses the pumpkin as a key ingredient in a brand-new sundae, and the glass slippers become dazzling bowls for serving her sweet creation. When the Prince tastes her ice cream, he’s so impressed that he doesn’t propose marriage—he proposes a business partnership! Together, they open the very first royal ice cream parlour, and Cinderella's dream finally comes true on her own delicious terms.

It’s a refreshingly modern twist that celebrates creativity, confidence, and doing things your own way—with just the right amount of sparkle and silliness to keep little ones hooked and grown-ups chuckling

🌈 Set the Scene & Music Magic 🎶

The set is a visual treat from the moment you enter, transforming the stage into a vibrant, vintage-style ice cream parlour. With its bold turquoise and fuchsia colour scheme, sparkling fairy lights, and black-and-white checkerboard floor, the design oozes retro charm and theatrical whimsy. Two ice cream counters take centre stage, with a piano integrated into one of them. Shelves behind are filled with pretend ingredients, colourful cones, and a playful menu featuring flavours like “Pumpkin Spice Sorbet” and “Cucumber Gelato.” Every detail, from the birthday bunting and classic broom to the hanging guitars, adds to the fun, immersive world.

Costumes are minimal but effective, with clever hat changes and quirky props bringing each new character to life.

If there’s one thing that makes Cinderella Ice Cream Seller truly shine, it’s the music—crafted with charm, wit, and a generous sprinkle of heart by David Gibb. Every number serves up more than just catchy melodies; these songs deepen the story, build emotion, and bring the characters to life with infectious energy. Whether you’re five or fifty, there’s a tune here to tickle your taste buds and get stuck in your head—in the best possible way.

One of the most delightful moments for my children, Alice and Leo, was the effervescent “We’re Gonna Make Ice Cream”—an irresistibly upbeat track that had them grinning from ear to ear. My personal favourite was “Up On the Menu,” which perfectly captures Talvi’s dream of adding her own spin to Cinderella’s legacy. Meanwhile, my husband found himself completely won over by “Something That’s Bigger Than Me”

Performed live by the multi-talented cast, the songs make clever use of the on-stage instruments—including a piano tucked behind the counter and guitars that magically appear mid-show. Harthorpe’s beautiful vocals add a soulful layer to the storytelling, while Gibb’s warm tones bring just the right touch of sincerity to each heartfelt refrain. Each song flows seamlessly into the action, helping young audiences stay engaged while also offering adults a deeper emotional pull.

🌟 Meet the Dream Team

David Gibb and Lauren Harthorpe are a fantastic duo. Gibb’s deadpan humour as Caldwell makes for a brilliant foil to Harthorpe’s sparkly energy as Talvi. Their chemistry is warm and inviting, and they bounce between characters and instruments effortlessly.

Harthorpe, especially, shines with her soulful vocals and playful stage presence. She brings real emotion to Cinderella’s journey, while also delivering giggle-worthy moments as the mean aunts. Gibb, meanwhile, shows off his musical chops and comic timing, particularly when he transforms into the Prince and even the Queen.

🍦 Sweet Ending & Final Scoop

Cinderella Ice Cream Seller is a true treat for the senses—bursting with colour, creativity, and a whole scoop of heart. It’s a delightful reminder that dreams can come in all flavours, and sometimes, the sweetest success comes from staying true to yourself.

One of our favourite moments came right at the start, when the audience was invited to shout out their favourite ice cream flavours. Leo (6) proudly declared "chocolate!", Alice (7) chimed in with "strawberry!", I couldn’t resist adding "mint choc chip," and Daddy threw in a very enthusiastic "salted caramel." It was such a fun and inclusive way to kick things off—and from that moment on, the children were completely hooked.

By the end of the show, Alice and Leo were grinning ear to ear and asking if we could get ice cream immediately. That’s the kind of magic this show creates: it doesn't just tell a story, it sparks imaginations and tickles taste buds.

If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good family outing that blends music, laughter, and a sprinkle of theatrical magic, Cinderella Ice Cream Seller is the cherry on top of the perfect day out.

If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

Click Me

Photo Credit - Andrew Walmsley

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review