Royal Court Theatre stage is all set for dinosaurs
Name: Alan Horne.
Home town: Lumb.
What do you do?: Family entertainment from children’s parties to promotional interactive animatronic character displays.
How did you enter this
role?: I was brought up in Rossendale and my late father Frank was the musical director for several local amateur operatic dramatic societies, through this I became interested and it is 50 years ago when I first stepped on a stage which was the Royal Court, then called the Empire. As well as chorus work I had small parts including Cornelious in Music Man and the Artful Dodger in Oliver. My interests went to music and after playing for several years in a local band went professional. Whilst working on a show the producer was looking for an illusionist/ magician and asked if I’d like to do it so I then ventured into that. Through this I got involved in promotional work and attractions.
What prompted you to create the show?: When the walking with Dino- saurs came out I saw how popular it was and thought it would be a good attraction to have a Dinosaur that was suitable for appearances in shopping malls. This took off and as well as walkabouts I added other smaller dinosaurs and effects to put on a short presentation/mall show. Together with actor/stunt coordinator Paul Flanagan who had joined the team together we created this stage show which could get to the smaller provincial theatres and give the audience the opportunity to get an affordable chance to see a show featuring Dinosaurs locally.
Tell us a little about the
show: The show is a family fun show produced by myself and Paul Flanagan, with a selection of Dinosaurs from small baby hatchlings to a T Rex and a mighty Triceratops.
What do you most enjoy
about doing this?: It’s very satisfying creating things that give the audience something different, affordable to see locally that is fun and enjoyable. I’m always adding new things and creating and developing new ideas to keep the presentations fresh.
What’s the most memorable thing that’s happened while you’ve been doing a perfor
mance?: We get lots of these, it’s really funny when someone gets into conversation with one of the animatronic characters. With the Dinosaurs one of the most memorable events was earlier this year when we provided the Dinosaurs and displays for a charity event at Event City. There was a host of footballers, TV stars and celebrities from the entertainment world.
Any more information?: Dinosaur Invasion is showing at Bacup Royal Court Theatre on Saturday, September 1, Doors open at 1.15pm and show starts at 2pm.
Tickets are £10.00 plus booking fee and family ticket (4) £30.00 plus booking fee.
For more information and to buy tickets visit www.ticketsource.co.uk or contact the Box Office on tel: 0333 666 3366.