HfC and Cornish businesses join forces to grant magical Christmas wish for nine year-old Isles of Scilly girl

This Christmas, with their pantomime – Aladdin - celebrating the power of wishes, Hall for Cornwall invited residents from across the Duchy to send in wishes of their own.

One of the thousands of responses came from a young girl called Ella, from the Isles of Scilly.

Ella, aged nine, calls St Mary’s home, sharing island life with her family on their farm. She attends Five Islands Academy, which is where her teacher, Alan Craig, set a task for his Year 5 class to make three wishes – one for themselves, one for someone else, and one for the world. Ella made her wish: for her family to see more shows on the mainland, specifically Aladdin, so they could share the love of theatre together.

Together with three local partners, Hall for Cornwall set out to make Ella's wish cometrue.

On Saturday 20 December, Ella and her mum, Zenna, were flown from St Mary’s to Cornwall Airport Newquay with Skybus, the airline of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group and CAN’s longest-serving airline. Cornwall Airport Newquay sponsor Aladdin and have been instrumental in making Ella’s wish come true.

On Sunday the pair, along with Ella’s aunt, headed to Hall for Cornwall to experience the festive fun of Aladdin together, catching up with the cast after the show in an exclusive meet-and-greet.

After the curtain fell on their theatre visit, Ella and her Zenna were whisked off for a complimentary night’s stay at The Falmouth, thanks to the generosity of the Cornwall Hotel Collection.This is a story about more than one wish. It’s about the power of local Cornish businesses pulling together to create something extraordinary. From the airline to the airport, the hotel to the theatre, this collaboration shows what happens when Cornish businesses work hand-in-hand to make magic happen. It’s about opening doors, creating experiences, and showing what Cornwall is really good at - connecting communities… even across the sea.

Julien Boast, Executive Producer of Aladdin and CEO of Hall for Cornwall said: “Together with our partners, we’ve turned a dream into a memory that will last a lifetime. That’s what theatre does best – igniting joy and creating unforgettable experiences. But for us, it goes deeper. Ella lives in one of the most beautiful yet rurally isolated parts of the country, where opportunities to experience live performance can be few and far between. At the heart of Hall for Cornwall’s mission is removing barriers, seeking out under-represented communities and sharing the transformative power of theatre.”

Josie Hutt, Marketing Manager at Cornwall Airport Newquay added: “At Cornwall Airport Newquay, connecting communities is at the heart of everything we do, and that’s especially true when it comes to our lifeline links with the Isles of Scilly.

Being able to play a part in making Ella’s wish come true has been incredibly special. Working alongside Skybus and Hall for Cornwall, this collaboration shows the real power of Cornish brands coming together to make something truly magical happen.”

Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Skybus, said: “Our partnership with Cornwall Airport Newquay has always been about more than flights, and helping Ella travel from St Mary’s to experience the magic of pantomime is a perfect example of that. We’re delighted to have helped make her dream a reality.”

Ben Young, Managing Director of the Cornwall Hotel Collection commented: “We’ve always held community right at the heart of all we do. When we heard about Ella’s wish, it was our pleasure to offer up a room at The Falmouth in the hopes that their stay with us only added to the festive joy of a trip to the theatre. It was a delight to welcome her and her mum through our doors, and we feel immensely proud to have been able to partner with Hall for Cornwall to help make this Christmas dream come true.”The weekend was a wish come true for Ella. Make your own wish a reality with tickets to Aladdin, a Cornwall Playhouse Production in association with Falmouth University, flying high with Cornwall Airport Newquay.

The shows runs at the Cornwall Playhouse, Hall for Cornwall, from Fri 05 Dec – Sat 03 Jan. Snap up your tickets at hallforcornwall.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01872 262466.