In the De Montfort Hall pantomime Cinderella, Curtis Pritchard is playing Dandini, with a cast including his brother AJ as Prince Charming, and the Leicester pantomime is running until 2nd January 2023. With the start of Dancing With the Stars Ireland in 2017, Curtis was one of the professional dancers, and he was the receptionist and digital presenter of BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer in 2020, and alongside being a professional dancer, Curtis and AJ run the YouTube channel – @BrosTorqueSupercars. Earlier this year, Curtis was a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and he was a previous contestant on the fifth series of Love Island, which led to him filming for The Boxer & The Ballroom Dancer with Tommy Fury. We caught up with Curtis about playing Dandini in Cinderella at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, being a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year and his time as a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars Ireland.

This year, you will be playing Dandini at De Montfort Hall in their pantomime Cinderella, what can audiences expect from your portrayal of the character?

The audience can expect a fun loving, clever but mischievous character who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to find true love for Prince Charming.

What are you looking forward to most for being in the cast and working alongside your brother AJ as Prince Charming over the Christmas season?

I’m looking forward to bringing a more in-depth character this year and even more singing. Christmas is all about family and love, so to be spending Christmas with my bro isn’t too bad.

Do you have a favourite aspect of performing in pantomime and interacting with a pantomime audience?

Yes, the freedom to really interact with an audience, I love this because every show you get a different reaction and it’s a new challenge to make them go through every emotion possible. Because in the end, that’s what theatre is for – the audience, an emotional roller coaster delivered by talent.

How is it rehearsing for a pantomime and what is the atmosphere like on opening night?

The atmosphere on opening night is electric and also a massive relief, well, if it all goes to plan that is.

Why would you recommend watching Cinderella at De Montfort Hall when it opens on 10th December?

The singing is great, the acting is great, but the dancing is just next level. I promise you, you won’t find better dancing in any other panto. Don’t take my word for it, come see it for yourself.

How was it being a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year?

I’d pay to do this programme again. I loved it and I wasn’t ready to leave when the DSs sent me on my way.

Was there anything you enjoyed most about being a contestant on the fifth series of Love Island and how was it going on to film The Boxer & The Ballroom Dancer with Tommy Fury?

Boxing is something that I always wanted to do, in fact, if I didn’t dance that is what I would have done. To be able to do and win my first boxing match was just unreal. Loved it! Love Island was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it was a roller coaster of an experience, which was spot on.

How was it being a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars Ireland and what are some of your stand-out highlights from your time on the show?

So much fun, I’d love to try the American Dancing With the Stars for my next dancing journey. I think it was the Irish culture and people that I loved most about that series.

You appeared in BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer as the receptionist and digital presenter, how was this?

This happened just five days after Love Island finished, which was crazy in itself. I was gutted when that programme never got recommissioned. The dancers to the judges were top quality and I just thought the whole idea for the show worked really, really well.

What are some of your favourite TV shows and films to watch and how do you like to spend your time away from your career?

Prison Break is an all-time favourite but I’m currently watching Game of Thrones, yes, I know I’m late to the bandwagon. I like to chill and play PS5 in my spare time or hit the gym and do some singing.

Do you have any upcoming plans that you can talk about and what are you hoping 2023 brings for you?

YouTube is a massive push for myself and AJ, cars are a passion of ours so we are doing a YouTube channel for cars – @BrosTorqueSupercars, we race, review and just do awesome stuff in cars.

Follow Curtis on:

Twitter

Instagram