It’s that time of year again, oh yes it is!
JEFFREY DAVIES chats to some of the Sleeping Beauty cast members ahead of the pantomime’s festive run at Theatre Royal
EASTENDERS and West End star Neil Mcdermott, Bath pantomime legend Jon Monie, dame extraordinaire Nick Wilton and Hollyoaks’ Sarah Jane Buckley lead the cast in this year’s Theatre Royal Bath festive treat Sleeping Beauty which opens in the beautiful Georgian city next week. Oh yes it does!
Promising a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with a new script by Jon Monie, the magical story tells of a beautiful princess, cursed by an evil spell to fall asleep on her 18th birthday, and only be awoken by true love’s kiss. As Fairy Snowfall works with her friends to lift the curse and break the spell, expect plenty of fun in a thrilling quest for a happy ending. Full of top musical hits, fantastic costumes, stunning sets and exciting special effects, the show promises to keep panto fans young and old thoroughly entertained.
Star of stage and screen Neil Mcdermott who plays Prince Vincent, is well-known to television viewers for his roles as Ryan Malloy in Eastenders (since 2009) and Dr Ralph Ellis in The Royal, and in the West End, Neil has starred in Pretty Woman and The Wind in the Willows among many others. Making a welcome return to the Theatre Royal Bath after starring in Laura Wade’s Home I’m Darling, Neil plays Prince Vincent in this panto extravaganza. How would the actor describe his latest stage incarnation?
“Well he’s the hero of the piece. A princess pricks her finger and has a spell put on her and she falls into a deep sleep. She needs her one true love to come along and awaken her from the curse. In terms of his character, Prince Vincent is a bit vain and thinks he’s smarter than he really is. Perhaps because I’m playing him we’ll make him a little bit tongue in cheek,” Neil said.
A much-loved pantomime favourite, the story of Sleeping Beauty is both happy and sad, I remarked.
“Yes, it is Jeffrey. There is happiness and sadness in it which audiences understand because that’s life. All these big Disney movies based on fairy tales have helped because the kids are so familiar with the storylines. They’re a lot of fun to do and audiences just love them.
“The production values of pantomimes these days are so high that they’re close to being a piece of musical theatre; the dance routines and the quality of the singing and performance and so on. We talk to the audience all the time these days and we mimic jokes about things going wrong just as there are plays now about going wrong. Pantomime is really not a million miles away from anything else being staged,” the Southport-born actor, 42, said.
“This is my third pantomime and I just love doing them. They are such a great British Christmas tradition. We like them because they are so entertaining, silly, a lot of fun and they make people happy and make them laugh at a very nice time of year. They’re also shows for all the family to enjoy together. And for kids, going to a pantomime is often the very first live stage show they ever see.”
Dr Ralph Ellis in The Royal and Ryan Malloy in Eastenders. Fun shows to be part of?
“Yeah amazing. I’m very fond of my time on The Royal. I had a great time. Everybody who worked on it were so kind and lovely. It was the same with Eastenders which is such a great show to be in. Both fantastic jobs, yes,” he answered.
Bath pantomime royalty Jon Monie, who has also written the script for this production of Sleeping Beauty, returns by popular demand to star as Lester the Jester. With a record number of more than 1,100 Bath pantomime performances under his belt, Jon continues to delight audiences every time he appears at the West Country venue.
Now marking his 21st Christmas show at the Theatre Royal, pantomimes penned by Jon are staged in theatres nationwide. Actor, television presenter and award-winning writer and comedian, Jon’s television credits include Bridgerton, The Outlaws and The Nevers. “The fairy tale Sleeping Beauty is such a wonderful story Jeffrey,” Jon told me. “What
I like about this one is it has all the different elements that you want from a pantomime. There’s adventure, a bit of timetravel, some dragon-slaying, a healthy dose of romance, traditional comedy routines – as well as new ones – singing and dancing, lights and wonderful costumes. And, of course, the story between the Prince and Sleeping Beauty herself.” And Jon’s role in this one?
“I’m Lester the Jester, my usual character type. He is the son of Dame Nanny Nora and Nanny Nora is the Dame to Princess Rose who is about to turn 18 and I’ve just about grown up with her. I’m her best friend and I am the castle jester so I’m there to entertain the household and the audience. I am my usual idiotic self!” Jon added with a laugh.
When he is writing the lines for his own comic roles like this one (Lester the Jester), does Jon tend to use his off-stage real-life persona as a kind of template for the stage character he will be playing?
“Oh that’s a very good question Jeffrey. I tend to write it in a way that I would like to say the line. You might think of a joke and that can be delivered in half-a-dozen different ways. You know, there are many ways to skin a rabbit!
“The way that I play the panto comic can be high-energy and bouncy if I want. But I tend to be more sarcastic and sardonic at times. I like to use pauses and stillness and silence. Some people play the panto comic at 100 miles an hour and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. But it’s not the way I do it. I’m a bit more of a ‘raised eyebrow and knowing look’ comic. A bit drier I suppose in my delivery,” Jon said.
One of the very best dames in the business, Nick Wilton makes a welcome return to the Theatre Royal Bath to play the role of Dame Nanny Nora. A firm favourite with audiences,
We cherish that lovely moment when children are taken to the theatre with their mums and dads and family Sarah Jane Buckley
Nick has played the iconic pantomime role of Dame across the country and since 2008, Nick has played market inspector Mr Lister in Eastenders.
“This pantomime is my sixth in Bath and it will be my 24th one in all since 2000. I’m very lucky because even in lockdown Jon wrote a reduced cast-offour panto which we filmed and streamed,” Nick told me.
“My first pantomime, Jeffrey, was at Salisbury Playhouse where they let me have a go at being a dame,” Nick remembered, adding that they are fun shows to appear in even though they do mean he is away from home and family for much of the festive season.
“Pantomimes are such fun to do because they’re a brilliant combination of so many elements. Especially Jon’s own penned pantos. There’s something for children which is fantastic, and there’s definitely something – some saucy little bits – in his scripts especially for the grown-ups.
“You also get some popular modern songs, as well as Jon and me doing a couple of comedy songs where he has rewritten the lyrics. And there’s dancing. And the whole thing is held together by a story which has a beginning, a middle and an end which children can follow. And they do.
“What’s more, all the antics and everything we put in on top of it – underlining it all and holding everyone’s attention – is this most marvellous story,” the English and drama graduate of the University of Kent said.
Dame Nanny Nora sounds delightful, I commented. How would Nick describe his latest panto incarnation?
“She’s a colourful character who’s been around the block a few times. She loves looking after Princess Rose and would do anything for her. Like a lot of mothers, she’s got a stern side as well but it’s all done for love. And of course she’s got this impossible son, Lester the Jester, who is the bain of her life,” Nick said with a laugh.
Sarah Jane Buckley who plays Fairy Snowfall in this pantomime is best known on television for her role as Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks. Her many stage credits include appearances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Elvis the Musical.
Fairy Snowfall. A fun role to play?
“Well she is gutsy, fun, clever, charming, gorgeous, beautiful and has a big heart. Do you want any more Jeffrey?” Sarah Jane told me most enthusiastically.
“I’m so lucky to be back in Bath. The Theatre Royal is such a beautiful theatre which I’ve played many times It’s stunning with a most beautiful auditorium. I love it and to play the Theatre Royal at this time of year is just wonderful.
“Pantomime is such a special show for a special time of year. We cherish that lovely moment when children are taken to the theatre with their mums and dads and family. It’s the moment all the family get together to see a show collectively. And the kids are allowed – and encouraged – to be as loud and noisy as they want. The parents and grandparents can also get involved in the fun of it all because it appeals to all ages. It spans all age groups which is rare,” the actress said.
“I love all the traditions of panto and I hate it when people want to get rid of it. I’m still very much a traditionalist. We need all of that audience participation. All the heckling and calling out. And this panto has romance as well. Some people say the prince saving the princess is all a bit old hat. But we still like a bit of romance and glamour don’t we?” the Northwich-born performer said.
The role of Princess Rose will be played by BRIT School and London Musical Theatre graduate Maisie Sellwood who is making her Theatre Royal Bath debut. Carobose is played by Emma Norman who started her career as a production vocalist at Manchester’s Granada TV studios before spending 25 years as a touring sesssion/backing vocalist.david Pendlebury will play the role of the king. His many West End credits include The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera.
Alongside the company of professional actors, the pantomime features the delightful and highly talented young dancers of Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance.
■ Sleeping Beauty is playing the Theatre Royal Bath from December 7 to January 7. Tickets can be booked on 01225 448844 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk