Former EastEnders and Hollyoaks star Rita Simons works her magic on Sheffield panto
Televison actress Rita Simons – best known for her role as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders – is the latest star to be announced for Sheffield’s pantomime.
Rita will play the role of Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Lyceum Theatre from November 28, 2026 until January 3, 2027.
She appeared in 974 episodes of EastEnders, winning four best newcomer awards after her debut in 2007. Rita last played Roxy in 2023 when she appeared in a dream of her screen daughter Amy Branning.
Rita was cast as Maria Fielding, the mother of Joel Dexter, in telly soap Hollyoaks for 18 months until October 2025.
Away from television, Rita has performed on stage in Legally Blonde: The Musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Hairspray.
Treading the boards in panto, Rita will join Strictly Champion Ore Oduba, CBeebies superstar Andy Day and the legendary Damian Williams who returns for his 19th year as Sheffield Theatres’ award-winning Dame. Also in the cast is seasoned pantomime actor Matt Daines, returning Yorkshire comic Joey Wilby, and Bibi Simpson as Cinderella.
Paul Hendry is the writer and director of Cinderella, with musical direction by James Harrison (winner of Best Music at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026).
Tickets from £35, go to www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk