Dame’s special day
How will Dame Trott, starring in Jack and the Beanstalk presented by Tony Peers at Scarborough Spa, spend Christmas Day ? See the Sue Wilkinson interview on the writer, director and performer Phil Beck.
Like most of the nation Phil Beck has an eye on who is making waves in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, who’s stepping out in Strictly Come Dancing, who won The X Factor and who will top the pop charts.
It is not out of idle curiousity or because he has a fiver on the outcome – though his altoego just might have.
Phil is writing this year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk presented by Tony Peers at Scarborough Spa.
So he has to have an eye and ear out for topical references which spice up pantos across the land. “You might write the script in August but you have to be prepared to be fluid,” said Phil. “Something could happen during the run which you just have to put in,” he said.
He is also playing Dame Tilly Trott and directing the show which features two Scarborough actresses, Lori Kellett as Jill and Charlotte Buxton as Fairy Sweet Pea.
As an aside Lori’s sister Devan is playing Alice Fitzwarren in Peers’ Dick Whittington and his Wonderful Cat at Parkway, Beverley.
It is the third year he has played dame and the sixth panto he has worked in for Tony.
Born near Nottingham and brought up in Peterborough, Phil’s parents were involved in amateur dramatics. His dad was a dame of some renown.
“People have different ways of playing dame, for some the character is a man in a frock for others it is a mumsy role – I’m somewhere in the middle,” said Phil who was lucky enough to work with one of the best in the business, Nigel Ellacott. This year Nigel is in panto in Wycombe.
Phil will be donning outrageous costumes, garish makeup, huge wigs and high-heels and reeling off the naughty but nice lines that have the audience in stitches.
“My dame is an amalgam of all the women who have had an influence on my life – including my mum and my wife – a caricature and tongue-incheek characterisation of all those women.
“The dame is the glue that sticks most pantomimes together,” he said.
“The good thing about Scarborough Spa panto is you cannot get a truer, more tradi- tional panto right through the songs, dances and routines.”
This year there will be never-before-seen props and gags as well as the routines – including the ghost scene – the audiences expect.
Phil has been involved professionally in the entertainments business since he was 18 and, at his parents’ insistence, also trained as an accountant.
He moved to Flamborough 12 years ago and worked as the entertainments manager for a holiday camp.
He loved the area so much that he and wife Clair and 16-month-old son Jaxon have made it their home.
As well as panto he works in shows during the year and sings in hotels.
“I have been very lucky in my career. Put it this way, I have never needed to fall back on the accountancy training.”
Sharing the stage with Phil, Lori and Charlotte will be Louise Willoughby as Jack, Nick Fawcett as the King, Mike Carnell as Silly Billy and Dave Kustard as Fleshcreep.
Dancers from the Scarborough-based TLC of Dance are also performing.
Dame Tilly Trott tells The Scarborough News all about her Christmas in pantoland.
She reveals what she would like Santa to bring, her favourite festive film and how she will be spending Christmas Day.
1. What would you like to find in your Christmas stocking?
Perhaps a second brain cell for my son Billy! Just kidding, I’m a simple girl, a few nuts and something orangey (not Donald Trump). Perhaps a clementine and a chocolate orange. It’s not Terry’s it’s mine!
2. Who would you most like to be under the mistletoe with?
Hugh Jackman, I’d love to get my claws into Wolverine.
3. What is your favourite Christmas song?
Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade. There is nothing like hearing Noddy Holder scream “It’s Christmas” through a speaker system at Lidl in April to let you know that Christmas is on the way.
4. You always look gorgeous darling. Where do you get your fashion sense from - any influences? And what’s your favourite outfit.
I’m a sucker for designer labels, take this dress for example. Have you heard of Armani? Well this is Salvation Armani! I do like my new American Dress though, one Yank and its off.
5. How will you, Jack and friends spend Christmas Day?
It’ll just be me Jack, Billy and of course Daisy the cow relaxing and watching that bearded old man delivering his Christmas presents... He’s a real hero that Noel Edmonds.
6. What is your favourite festive film?
I love Scrooged with Bill Murray. It Reminds me of all the men in my life.
7. How would winning the lottery - or getting bags of the giant’s gold - change you?
I’d still be the same old me. I might buy myself a little lottery dress. If my number comes up, I’m in for a rollover!
8. What is your favourite saying?
Don’t put the cat in the washing machine Granny, you might get a sock in the puss!
9. What is your New Year’s Resolution?
To be debt free. With the Giant Blunderbore constantly chasing us to pay taxes we are always financially bereft... For those from Newby that means skint!
10. The BBC want you to do the next edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Who would you like to be partnered with, what would your best dance be and what would be the music you would dance to?
I would have to say Anton – he has a way with the older ladies, best dance the foxtrot although we could make it the “Tillytrott”! As for the song it has to be Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like A Woman”... need I say more?