The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Giant step for star in Jack’ s lead role
Kirsty Findlay has history with pantos, having worked at the Byre in St Andrews and Ayr Gaiety in the past. This year will be the first time, however, that she’s experienced the singular joys of the Perth Theatre panto.
“I auditioned for the job and got the script through, and when I was reading it I was like, ‘I think I’d be really good at this, this part really suits me’,” she says of her role as Jack, of Beanstalk fame, which is a female part in this version.
“She’s very on the front foot, she’s not a princess like other panto characters, and that’s the kind of part I do best, to be honest. I was glad to get it.”
Being an actor in the Perth panto, as anyone who’s made a habit of attending in recent years knows, means working with writer and director
Barrie Hunter, who’s one of the modern masters of the genre in Scotland.
His scripts are traditional but topical, and in his customary acting role as the dame he brings huge comedy energy to the production.
“Barrie’s become a bit of a panto legend,” says Kirsty. “He’s properly nailed the panto humour, he really knows what he’s doing and his experience shows, he knows what works.
“That’s why Barrie’s scripts go down so well and are really successful, because he knows what an audience wants.
“The Perth panto’s always had such a great following, I’ve heard such great things about it, and I know it is going to be great.”
In this version Jack is a famous mountaineer who has climbed every single tall mountain in the world except Beinn Mucklemichty, the highest mountain in
Middle Perth, which is meant to be impossible. Instead, now she works for her mum Lettie Lou’s (Hunter) Pettin’ Zoo.
“It’s brought her down a peg or two, but she’s got the itch to go off on an adventure again,” says Kirsty.
“It just so happens there’s a giant living nearby, so she has to defeat the giant and pull everyone together to overcome this crisis in their village.”
Kirsty, who was nominated for an Olivier Award as best supporting actress in 2016 alongside her co-stars in the National Theatre of Scotland’s Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, appears alongside Ewan Somers as Jack’s brother Jock, Helen Logan as the baddie and George Docherty as a mysterious but amusing man who doesn’t understand why he’s in the village.
“Panto is the first introduction to theatre for a lot of children in Scotland, and outwith playing with their friends, it’s their first introduction to using their imagination in a bigger way with lots of other people involved,” says Kirsty.
“It was my introduction to theatre and how it all started for me, so I really enjoy trying to find the connection I had with an audience of younger children.
“For adults as well – they maybe won’t come to the theatre at any other time of year, but they want a laugh, some great music and some funny gags.
“Panto’s not trying to do anything else, it’s so nice to be in an ensemble with people who just want to put on a great fun show.”
Jack and the Beanstalk is at Perth Theatre until Saturday December 31. www.horsecross.co.uk