Soap star all set for resort panto role
FORMER Brookside and Coronation Street star Sam Kane will be playing Buttons in Southport Theatre’s spectacular family pantomime Cinderella this Christmas.
Tickets for the show, from Friday, December 15 to Saturday, January 6, are on sale now.
Sam is well known to soap fans throughout the country for playing Peter Phelan in Brookside.
He has also appeared in both Coronation Street and Emmerdale and appeared alongside Danny Dyer in the film Vendetta.
Sam is an experienced theatre performer, having starred in the musicals Boogie Nights, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Carousel and South Pacific. Sam previously appeared at the theatre in 2009 with the UK tour of Hot Flush.
He said: “I played the part of ‘The Man’ which was a great part for me as I got the chance to play 27 different roles in the musical. I was the only man playing all of the male roles. It was so much fun and a really challenging gig but I loved every minute of it.”
Sam has also appeared in many pantomimes throughout his career, playing everything from Prince to Ugly Sister and this year, as well as playing Buttons, he is also going to direct the pantomime.
“I’ve been directing pantomimes since the Millennium but have appeared in them since the age of 17, missing just two years since.
“I’ve been headlining since 1995. I love panto as it has to be as entertaining for three-yearolds as it is for grannies and grandads. I love the challenge that it brings when I’m directing but even more so when I’m up there in the spotlight.
“I’ve been doing both; performing and directing for so long now that it doesn’t feel like it’s ever been any other way. Although, I have to say it’s exhausting for me on opening night but that’s all part of the joy of it.
“Seeing people laugh, even rock in their seats with laughter, is the best feeling an entertainer can have.
“A kid came up to me one day in Cardiff. I was playing Abanazar in Aladdin. The kid said ‘I loved hating you. You made me love you and hate you at the same time’. That was one of my happiest moments in panto. My job was done!”
When not appearing in panto, Sam spends much of the year performing on some of the biggest cruise ships in the world and he is currently in the process of becoming an agent as well as fronting his own show on www.2ndcityradio. net
Sam says “I’ve always fancied having a go on radio but the opportunity never lent itself until recently. I love it now. I’ve been on there for over a year. The interaction is great. And I don’t have to sing all the songs in-between, so that’s even better.”
Steve Boden from Imagine Theatre who produce the pantomime said: “We are really excited to work with Sam for the first time this year.
WHe is a wonderful performer and has such an invaluable wealth of experience in the panto industry that we are confident he is going to be a great asset to our new production in Southport this year.”
Cinderella at Southport Theatre runs from Friday December 15, 2017 until Saturday January 6, 2018 and is once again sponsored by Southport Visiter.
For tickets, priced from £11, call 0844 871 3021 or visit www. atgtickets.com/southport