Real life: Three women on why they’re at their busiest
Christmas is hectic for most of us, but for those performing during the season, it’s exhausting! We meet three women who find December is the busiest month of the year
‘Performing at Christmas is even more magical’
Liz Drury, 45, voice-over artist, Barton-upon-Humber There’s nothing quite so British as a panto. Hearing the laughter of the audience, the cries of ‘He’s behind you!’ and ‘Oh no she didn’t!’ never fail to make me chuckle.
I’ve always been a bit of a performer – in school I used to take to the stage regularly. Sadly, my enthusiasm fizzled out when I went to university in Durham in 1991, as the drama group felt a bit cliquey.
It was in 2010 when my interest was piqued again. My son James, then eight, became involved in the local children’s drama group in Barton-on-Humber and I was persuaded to join the adult group to make up numbers.
My first part was Sheila Birling in An Inspector Calls. And although I was nervous, when I got back on stage I realised how much I’d missed it. When I was told the group were staging a sci-fi themed pantomime that Christmas I signed up immediately! I played Bob Lovelygirl – a princess in disguise – and loved every minute.
Since then, I’ve performed in several pantos, and even written one myself called Strictly Cinderella, which was performed at
Ropery Hall in Barton-uponHumber in 2011. My husband Chris,
49, and I do Jive lessons, so during the panto when Cinderella was given the chance to dance, Chris replaced the actor playing the prince so we could show off our moves!
This year, I’m playing the prince myself in Snow White and the Six and a Half Dwarfs – the junior group will be playing the dwarfs and the ‘half’ is a puppet! We’re also donning our costumes for a parade through the streets of Barton.
Being in panto is absolutely exhausting, but Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without it!