Belle of the ball? Oh no he isn’t!

Dean McCullough has been performing two shows a day, six days a week to 1,000 plus audiences since Cinderella opened on December 8.

The 20-year-old is part of the ensemble cast and performs in a number of fast-paced dances throughout the show. He, along with another dancer open the show and mid-way through the performance he plays an unlikely suitor for Prince Charming.

Dean said: “I am loving it. The show and the cast are fantastic. The main characters are played by May McFettridge, Jayne Wisener who was in Sweeney Todd and Basil Brush and it is just hilarious.

“They are constantly joking around and making it a really enjoyable experience. John, who plays May has the crowd in stitches of laughter right from the very beginning.

“He enters from the beginning on a massive moon from the ceiling and the noise from the audience is just incredible, I have never heard the likes of it before.

“I open the show with another dancer and then later on I play a girl - I tell myself its for the money - who tries to convince the prince its her glass slipper and they are meant to be together and that goes down an absolute treat.”

Despite the young age, Dean, a graduate of the Laine theatre school in London, has become somewhat of a veteran of pantomimes.

However, this year is the first time he has performed in front of a home audience.

He went on: “The Belfast audience has been so fantastic, they really have surprised me. They really go along with you on the journey and are up for a really great night out.

“There has obviously been a lot of disruption around the town, but each and every night the audiences have packed out the Opera House and are ready for a great night.

“I have performed in front of many audiences, but nothing compares to this experience. Plus being at home I have the added bonus of my mum making my dinner for me.”

Lately Dean has been carrying out presenting duties for a number of theatre shows in London.

He added: “I’ve a lot of strings to my both. I have the acting, the dancing and I can do presenting.

“I would really love to go into television and work there and I know it will happen if I keep on working hard.

“But at the moment I am enjoying being in front of an audience every night so close to home.”

You can see Dean in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House until January 26, for information or tickets call 9024 1919.