Laura Main
How does it feel to be back after last year’s cancellations?
It gives a feeling of normality for an evening – one of our traditions is back and it’s a great feeling not just for the actors and theatre team, but the audience as well.
This is just your second major panto in your home city of Aberdeen – what was the initial experience like?
I had so much fun. You put the hard work in and then have a ball, feeding off of the audience. Alan Mchugh, who has been the Dame here for 17 years, and also writes and directs it, says if we’re not having a good time then we’re doing something wrong.
What role are you playing in Beauty And The Beast?
I’m The Enchantress, so I cast the spell on the Prince to teach him a very valid lesson. There’s a lot of singing, and quite a spectacular, magical, opening. Then there’s the costumes, which are stunning. It’s every little girl’s dream to have outfits like these.
This will be Call The Midwife’s 10th consecutive Christmas special – how does that feel?
It really is amazing. I think it’s become a bit of a Christmas tradition. You couldn’t get a more perfect programme to make a Christmas special of, because it really does bring to life the magic of Christmas – it’s not just a show shoehorning the festivities into it. I feel it really brings back to life a really traditional Christmas.
Do you have a prominent role in this year’s episode?
It’s a feature-length episode and within that time the writer and creator Heidi Thomas, as she always does, waves so many stories together beautifully.
Is there more to come?
Series 11 finished filming two weeks before I started panto rehearsals, and series 12 and 13 have already been commissioned.
You presented some Duke of Edinburgh awards – what’s your connection to that scheme?
It’s every little girl’s dream to have outfits like these
I did three Duke of Edinburgh expeditions when I was younger, and I have great memories of doing it. As a family, we were always into the outdoors, but it goes to another level when you walk for miles. It’s character-building, but also fun.
How did you become involved in The Archie Foundation sick children’s charity?
From the visits we do with the panto cast in full costume, going into the hospital in Aberdeen to visit the kids. Unfortunately this year we just can’t go in, so we sent them a video. I’m now a patron of the charity.