JOE CONLAN ON
Joy at following Twink & co in iconic theatre role
JOE Conlan told of his pride at following in the footsteps of legends Twink and Maureen Potter as the panto dame at the iconic Gaiety Theatre.
The Dubliner, 64, who has been entertaining families at the Dublin theatre for more than a decade, said all the greats pave the way for the next generation of dames. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Everyone has their time and we move on. I won’t be there for
ever, I’ll move on too.
“I’ve worked with Twink and then someone else steps in. We’re just passing through, we’re jobbing actors.”
A defining moment for Joe was sharing the Gaiety stage with the legendary Maureen Potter.
He said: “Maureen Potter and Eileen Reed and the people who went before them like Jimmy O’dea and Ursula Doyle paved the way at the Gaiety for us to take over.
“I was an altar boy in church and I saved up all my money to buy a cheap seat in the upper grand circle at the Gaiety.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams when I was standing behind Maureen on stage that I would one day become the dame.
“I watched her for 25 years but to watch her from the wings was very special.
“No matter how many drama classes I took, watching someone as wonderful as Maureen is how I learnt my craft. When she came on stage... it was her energy.”
Joe, who played a plumber on Mrs Brown’s Boys and a priest on Fair City, has been a firm favourite on the panto scene for years.
He got the call from choreographer and director Daryn Crosbie 14 years ago offering him the role and he hasn’t looked back.
Back as Nanny Scrumptious in Cinderella for the Gaiety’s 150th year anniversary, Joe added: “Nanny is a warm woman who minds the prince.
“She keeps an eye out for him, she’s looking out for him to find a lady to get married to.
“She has a sort of a twinkle in her eye for the Prince’s father the King.”
The ugly sisters are played by Aisling Breen and Linzi Cowap and Emma Wigglesworth is the Fairy
I never thought in my wildest dreams that one day I would become the dame
Godmother. Nicholas Grennell plays the evil stepmother with Ciara Lyons as Cinderella.
Joe remarked that “Disneyesque” shows like the Jungle Book and The Little Mermaid have been on in recent years, but this year is extra momentous.
He said: “They’ve just gone back to the most iconic of all pantomimes. But Barbie, the movie, features and the songs of Taylor Swift – we have to keep up with the young ones.”
The costumes and set design get more elaborate every year, he admitted.
Joe added: “There is an edge this year because it’s Cinderella and we’re in palaces. The expectation of the public is huge.
“We have a live orchestra, the video wall is fabulous and the costumes are stupendous.”
Nanny Scrumptious has no less than eight costume changes during the show. He said: “My make-up takes about an hour, then I add on the false eyelashes. On top of that I’ve got a wig cap and a cloth on my head to stop me
from sweating. Then the microphone goes on, then numerous tights bloomers, knickers under skirts, that’s the prep the audience don’t see.
“The costumes are ventilated but you are roasting up there, we’ve a few quick changes and the girls derobe you. I’ve about seven or eight costumes, gloves and jewellery all made to perfection.”
Reminiscing on his outstanding dame roles, Joe reckons Peter Pan stands out. He added: “The most memorable moments going down through the years are as the dame flying in Peter Pan with the two boys. “I had some dust in my hand and I threw it up in the air. There was a light change and I just flew and I sang this lovely song I’m Flying, it was gorgeous.” Of his role in the Snow Queen, Joe said: “Myself and my fellow actors had to go up the slopes and we were pelted with snowballs.
We start messing like kids, tripping each other up, or someone would grab your foot and the audience wouldn’t see, it was great fun. Moments like that the words don’t come out.”
He recalled how the panto Rapunzel required a lot of ad lib. Joe added: “I had to pretend I was in a river but my boat got stuck. I had to get out of the boat and push the boat, I was in hysterics. That’s where you have to ad lib and say, ‘There are choppy waters, I’m walking on water like the Lord himself ’.
In 2019, Joe was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When the panto returned after a Covid hiatus he made an emotional speech onstage.
Now cancer-free, he said he’s grateful for every moment. Joe said: “After my health scare I look after myself. My spiritual side and meditation got me through it. I now go to the gym every morning at 6.30am. We have 93 shows – I stay fit and it takes discipline.
“Every show is new because each time we have a new audience. The audience will be spellbound this year, I’m so grateful to be here.”
As for romance he said: “I’m young, free and single. You never know I might meet my Prince!
“If you wake up in the morning and put your feet on the ground that’s a start.”
Cinderella celebrates 150 years at the Gaiety Theatre from November 26 to January 7, 2024. Tickets available on ticketmaster.ie.