Pantomime Review: Cinderella, Empire Theatre, Liverpool

Image Source: Mark McNulty

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 19 2017
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool

The Empire Theatre has always been at the heart of Liverpool's pantomime scene during the festive season, and the venue delivers another panto-tastic experience for all the family with Cinderella.

The story is well-known: Cinders (Olivia Sloyan) struggles to make headway in her life because of her two wicked step-sisters (Daniel Taylor, who plays Hernia, and James Templeton, who plays Verruca), but a chance meeting with Prince Charming (Duncan James), accompanied by his servant Dandini (Scott Mobley), changes that. Not to mention the intervention of both her friend Buttons (John Evans) and The Fairy Godmother (Jodie Prenger), both of whom help Cinderella to keep her head up and her hopes high for a better future.

That appears to come when the Prince, himself looking for love, announces a grand ball, partly so that he can properly meet Cinderella. Hernia and Verruca do their best to foil Cinders' chances of attending, but The Fairy Godmother again provides assistance, which allows Cinders to go to the ball. Then ... well, you probably know the rest from that point onwards.

John Evans as Buttons is the funniest performer on the show, as well as being the character who does the most work and appears in the most scenes. His first appearance takes on a stand-up feel, but it's his exchanges with the other characters which really get the big laughs, particularly when the likes of The Fairy Godmother are trying to keep a straight face when speaking to him. Indeed, for the adults at least, John is the performer they're most likely to remember when all is said and done.

Elsewhere, Jodie Prenger and Olivia Sloyan are very good singers, and of course, the singing is elevated further by the presence of Duncan James, best known away from the pantomime scene for being a member of Blue. Beyond that, certain scenes deliver a lot of laughs, and the deliberately Scouse lingo (with insults like "blurt" and "melt" coming out of nowhere) by Daniel Taylor and James Templeton provide additional unexpected giggles. The production standards are also very high, with extravagant lighting, excellent settings (particularly for Prince Charming's ballroom), and one particularly memorable scene that takes us into intermission, which I won't spoil here (hint: it is horse-related).

On the downside, the show started pretty late, and it took a bit of time to get going. Also, some of the lighting was occasionally too strong, with a couple of the lights situated near the front of the stage giving off a blinding effect on more than one occasion. And the younger dancers played an unusually minor role in proceedings. Still, there was a lot more to like about this show, from the hilarious scene where Muddles uses actual song lyrics to describe how he's feeling to the exceptional costumes donned by all, particularly in the second half.

With Christmas just days away, there is still plenty of time for you to bring the family along to see Cinderella; you'll have a great time, I can assure you.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Pantomime Review: Aladdin, Echo Arena Auditorium, Liverpool

Image Source:
Echo Arena Auditorium

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 16 2017
Location: Echo Arena Auditorium, Liverpool

We're just days away from Christmas now, which means that the panto season is well and truly in full swing now. The latest venue to launch its festive show is Echo Arena Auditorium, with their offering of the timeless tale known as Aladdin. ("Oh, no they're not!" "Oh, yes they are!")

The story of Aladdin is fairly easy to follow for kids and adults alike: Aladdin (played by Michael Auger, star of Collabro from Britain's Got Talent) and his daft family (his brother Wishy Washy, played by Mark Jones, and his mother Widow Twankey, played by Ruby Murry) are in Peking, where he encounters Princess Jasmine (the debuting Jessica Johann), much to the chagrin of her father who wants her to avoid falling in love with someone who lacks great wealth.

However, there is a chance for Aladdin to see his fortunes quite literally change overnight in the form of a magic lamp. There's a challenge, though: the evil Abanazar (Dean Sullivan) has travelled to Peking (not Cyprus) with his sidekick Slave Of The Ring (Leanne Campbell) to locate the lamp, and he is willing to use Aladdin as a pawn in his dastardly plan. Ultimately, Aladdin finds himself in jeopardy, and so it is down to the power of magic for him to not only escape these troubles, but to also make his financial and romantic dreams come to fruition.

Ruby Murry stole the show as the hilarious Widow Twankey with some cracking and occasionally off-colour jokes, along with a number of extravagant outfits (the best being an oversized Asda carrier bag, with dozens of additional regular Asda carrier bags forming a wig, and a huge tea table set-up dress) and a spectacular vocal rendition of Nessun Dorma. Speaking of singing, Jessica Johann demonstrated some great singing talents in her pantomime debut, and chances are that we'll be seeing a lot more of Jessica in the future based on her performance here.

Elsewhere, the special effects (which included a magic carpet for Aladdin) were very good, if at times a little overbearing when it came to the dry ice that covered the first few rows on more than one occasion. There was a lot of attention to detail with the backgrounds and the lighting, and the young dancers were clearly well-trained, with a couple of them delivering some priceless expressions during the extended dance routines. It took a little bit of time for the audience to warm to Wishy Washy but it eventually did happen, which led to some humorous moments of interaction. It was also Wishy Washy who controlled the scene towards the end where several children came on stage to sing Kung Fu Fighting (which had been sung by the main characters during the show), with one in particular (Oliver) having the crowd in stitches after giving some incredibly frank opinions about dating, specifically girls.

On the downside, the show was a slow starter, with many of the funnier moments coming in the second half. The acting felt a bit forced on occasion, and though some of the jabs at local areas were generally funny, a couple seemed unnecessary under the circumstances. Also, while I liked the way that the Genie was brought into the show, the dialogue was a bit weird, so the kids would have been baffled by what the Genie (voiced by Pete Price) was talking about. Still, there was a lot to like about this production, including some excellent musicians who played a vital yet understated role in moving the show along just in front of the stage, and the costumes as a whole were exceptional for every character, not just Widow Twankey.

To sum it up, Aladdin isn't necessarily the most Christmassy panto that you will see over the next few weeks, but it is a lot of fun, and it's a show that I'd definitely suggest that you bring the young 'uns to see.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Pantomime Review: Peter Pan, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

Image Source: Epstein Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 11 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

The Epstein panto is as much an annual Christmas tradition as mince pies, work parties and the visit of the Coca-Cola truck which the usual doom-and-gloomers have been inexplicably trying to block. The formula is slightly switched up this year in a few ways, which combined with the usual big laughs and occasionally mature levels of humour (which the younger kids thankfully don't cotton onto), ensures that Peter Pan is another great festive offering.

Yes, Peter Pan; not traditionally a story which is brought to life in pantomime form, but one which perfectly adapts to the setting when performed by this experienced and talented crew. Here, Lewis Pryor takes up the title role, and quickly catches the eye of Wendy (Joanne Harper) as they travel to Neverland with a little help from Tinkerbell (Claire Simmo).

However, there are dangers ahead, not least Captain Hook (Dane Bowers), who wants to have Peter Pan killed for his own personal rewards, and is willing to go to another level (sorry) to do it. He has assistance from the daft Smee (Chris Barton) and the even dafter Dame Betty (Michael Chapman), but resistance from Tiger Lily (Georgia Austin) and the magic of Neverland ensures that the battle goes down to the wire, with Peter Pan not only needing to survive the dastardly Hook, but also slowly becoming attracted to Wendy. Will there be true love, and will Hook's evil plot be taken down?

Everyone performs to a high standard, as is the norm for the Epstein pantos. Several children were drafted into the cast as The Lost Children, and several kids had some hilarious lines, with one or two having that talent of making people laugh through simple facial expressions and mannerisms. As is often the case, there were plenty of jokes about local people and situations (the idea of a "drawn-out and depressing" situation for Peter Pan was initially assumed by Smee to be describing an Everton game), and the settings were very well-crafted in an attempt to create the most authentic Neverland backdrops possible. Top it off with some cool visual effects (such as characters flying and pyrotechnics), plenty of dance routines (though some of the dancers appeared to wish that they were somewhere else), colourful costumes, and some clever in-jokes (at one point there appeared to be production issues, only for it to be the set-up for one of the show's funnier planned scenes), and you have a really enjoyable panto experience for all the family.

Not for the first time, though, it's Michael Chapman as Dame Betty who steals the show with loads of great one-liners. The tone was set very early on with some near-the-knuckle jokes relating to certain well-known faces on television, and they continued throughout the show. At times, "risqué" would have been a generous way to describe such lines as her true name being "Betty Swallocks" and her somewhat intimate suggestion for Hook to pop around her house. Many of the attendees were in uproar laughing at Betty's remarks, and there's no doubt that her character is the one that people will most remember when seeing the show. The audience themselves contributed at times (one youngster hilariously shouted "Lewis!" to Peter Pan when he was in danger), though some attendees unfortunately tried to take over the entire show at one point, which is never a good thing. Otherwise, though, this was a lot of fun.

I would heartily recommend that you bring the family along to see Peter Pan at the Epstein over Christmas. You'll have a great time, and everyone will be feeling truly Christmassy when all is said and done. Just be prepared for some potentially awkward questions from the little 'uns afterwards!

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding

Pantomime Review: Beauty & The Beast, The Black-E, Liverpool

Image Source: Made Up

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 7 2017
Location: The Black-E, Liverpool

A modern, localised and charming retelling of the classic story Beauty & The Beast is currently being performed at the Black-E in Liverpool. Produced by Siobhan Noble and James Lacey, it brings the true spirit of Christmas along with some funky dance moves, some humorous situations and plenty of outrageous moments and one-liners to deliver a fantastic pantomime experience.

This version of Beauty & The Beast tells the story of Belle Vale (Tori Hargreaves), and her father Egbert (Alan Stocks) attempting to benefit from his next major invention, "Top Trumps" whoopie cushions. He also wants to find a rose for Belle, in the face of insults and adversity from her two sisters Toxteth (Maia Johnson) and Croxteth (Billiejo Fairclough). In the meantime, however, a spell by Fairy Rose Lane (Helen Carter) goes disastrously wrong, causing The Prince (Nick Langmead) to transform into a horrid Beast, who rules the kingdom with an iron fist and has his minions, particularly Dame Dolly (Jamie Greer) and Basic Bertie (Adam McCoy), perform his every wish.

Consequently, conflict is created when Egbert gets lost in the woods and finds himself trapped in the Beast's lair. Fairy Rose tries to help but to no avail, partly because of a huge rose hanging in the forest, whereby every petal lost is one step closer to near-apocalypse for the village (it also leads to Dolly and Bertie's costumes changing regularly, from a Coke machine to a superlambanana to a giant cake). Belle learns of her father's plight and rushes to help, only to attract the wrath of the Beast. Over time, however, a romance develops, unbeknownst to the villagers who believe they are helping by trying to free Belle and kill the Beast. They are led by Garston (Ciaran Kellgren), a self-proclaimed and delusional ladies' man who believes that Belle is madly in love with her, and influenced by his similarly-stupid friends Norris (Brandon Incles) and Zak (Kai Grosscurth).

The show is a little long, coming close to 2 ½ hours, and it takes a bit of time to find its groove, but it's more than made up by the general enthusiasm of the cast and the increasingly-humorous situations which come up. The use of local areas as character names is clever, particularly Belle Vale for the Princess and Norris for a character who more often than not dons green attire. Dame Dolly and Basic Bertie deliver plenty of laughs during their interplay, occasionally of the risqué variety, and it's also funny to see Garston try and convince himself that he's the fittest lad around when no lady around seems truly interested in him.

The Black-E setting was also interesting, as it meant that the cast were performing to all four sides as opposed to one. This meant that there was no true backdrop for the location, but the use of such props as the hanging rose and dinner tables, along with the physical activity of the performers themselves overcame this. It also led to increased audience interaction, occasionally of the unplanned kind, as several parents and kids needed to walk by the stage when going to get refreshments or visit the restrooms, along with some kids shouting out humorous remarks during certain scenes. There was also comedy during the kids-sing-along scene towards the end, with several children delivering some of the night's funnier quips.

Elsewhere, the singing was very good, especially by Tori Hargeaves and Helen Carter, both of whom showed star potential both in their acting and their musical renditions. The use of lighting effects was clever considering the surroundings, and for the audience themselves, being so close to the performers worked well as it got everybody involved in some way, as well as ensuring that you were focusing on every area of the stage as opposed to just one central spot. The costumes were very good, if a little recycled at times, and the final scene had the audience up on their feet dancing and singing along. Minor downsides were some audio difficulties near the beginning, and other slight technical hitches with the rose petals (which Fairy Rose dealt with very well, using comedy to acknowledge the situations), along with some songs being used several times rather than having a larger range of popular numbers. However, the positives outweighed the negatives by far for this show.

There are many pantomimes set to be held across Merseyside this Christmas, but I would definitely suggest that you take the family along to attend this version of Beauty & The Beast. It's something different yet reassuringly familiar at the same time, it delivers a lot of laughs and a fair amount of unpredictability, and it allows the audience to all walk away with smiles on their faces. It's a real credit to the producers and the performers, and it earns my recommendation as a panto that people young and old will truly enjoy.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Theatre Review: The Wizard Of Oz - Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

Image Source: Bill Elms

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: October 29 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

The Wizard Of Oz is one of the grandest, most magical and most popular stories of all-time. The tale of Dorothy and Toto having to overcome the Wicked Witch and appease The Wizard Of Oz in order to return home from Kansas, with assistance along the way from three unusual yet trustworthy accomplices (Scarecrow, Tin-Tin & The Cowardly Lion), is one that I'm sure everybody reading this will have seen in the form of the classic 1939 movie.

A theatre version of TWOZ is currently touring the region, and it has just completed a stop-off at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. So, it was with anticipation and a fair bit of excitement that I headed to one of my local venues to see an all-time great story come to life in physical form.

I mentioned the basic plot of the story earlier, so it's hardly worth me reiterating; instead, I'll jump straight to the performances. Cheryl Fergison was on form as the Wicked Witch, mixing some typically evil insults with pop culture references and the occasional nod to her background as Heather Trott in EastEnders. Maddie Hope Coelho was believable as Dorothy, and her renditions (one near the beginning, one at the end) of Somewhere Over The Rainbow were stunning, drawing much applause and positive feedback from the Epstein audience.

Elsewhere, we had a talented crew on offer to play the other major roles, with David Heath in the role of Scarecrow, Phillip McGuinness as Tin-Man and Richard Hazlewood as The Cowardly Lion. Add to that a few hilarious scenes, a soundtrack which combined vintage TWOZ tracks with modern hits, and some funky dance moves - oh, and the use of a real dog as Toto - and you have a guaranteed recipe for success, right? Especially when you factor in the effective use of pre-recorded video footage to demonstrate Dorothy's journey to Oz from Kansas and vice versa, some excellent backdrops, and costumes which were as faithful to the movie as you could possibly expect.

However, I had a couple of issues with the production. For one, there were a fair few technical glitches, and some characters that weren't meant to be on the stage were visible via the side curtains on more than one occasion. I could overlook this, but not the way in which the story - which, as I mentioned earlier, virtually everybody knows - was modified for seemingly no reason. I won't provide spoilers, but The Wizard's true identity, and how this was revealed, was disappointing, and despite the video scenes showing how Dorothy returns home, we don't get the scene where she recognises the same faces that she met in Oz, one of the key elements of the film. I'll overlook the lack of a multi-coloured horse, though, since admittedly that would be extremely hard to pull off in a theatre setting.

The biggest problem, though, is that judging by the way in which the show was presented, those in charge haven't worked out whether they wanted this to be a pantomime or a play, and in the latter case, whether they wanted it to be comedic or serious. There are undoubtedly many moments of mirth, but with the exception of the Wicked Witch, there was barely any audience interaction in the first half, and some performers occasionally hammed up their roles to the point where they appeared to forget that the purpose of the show was to make people laugh, rather than actually trying to portray the characters from the famous movie. It's not to say that the show was super-serious by any means, but it was hard to determine which direction the producers were looking to take the show into. It's also no surprise that the second half was more enjoyable because there was a greater emphasis on comedy and audience interaction, which the crowd lapped up, and it resembled the panto that I and many other attendees assumed it was meant to be.

These criticisms were certainly not enough to spoil the show, though: I had a great time, and certain elements of the production were as good as you will see amongst pantomimes and children's shows. Indeed, in terms of bringing The Wizard Of Oz to life, this particular portrayal did a fine job, and the kids and adults alike will have gone away looking to rewatch the film and experience more of the magic from Oz. I just hope that the production team will make slight adjustments to the script and decide whether they want to go down the panto route or whether they want this to be more of a play with a comedic edge. If they find their niche, and adjust the script slightly from there, then this show could be elevated to can't-miss territory.

(You can read an interview I conducted with Cheryl and David about The Wizard Of Oz by clicking here.)

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Theatre Interview: Lucy-Jo Hudson - "Snow White Is Going To Be A Lot Of Fun"

Written By: Mark Armstrong

HI-HO! Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs is coming to St. Helens Theatre Royal this Christmas, where a combination of hilarious jokes, classic songs, eye-catching dance moves and colourful costumes, along with one of the most familiar stories ever told, all come together for one fantastic pantomime experience. Plus, Johnny Vegas will star as The Magic Mirror, one who is not afraid to speak the truth! Also appearing in the role of Snow White will be Lucy-Jo Hudson, who has built quite the career in acting, dancing and singing, from the cobbles of Coronation Street to the wildlife of South Africa! We spoke to Lucy-Jo about her forthcoming appearance in Snow White, as well as her career highlights so far and her future ambitions. We also ask Lucy-Jo: what's the worst Christmas present that you've ever had?

First of all, tell us about your role in Snow White.

So, I play Snow White, and having read the script, I've noticed that Snow White has got a bit of banter about her. It's really funny, and she tries herself to be funny but she's not. She's also got her best friend Muddles, and they're really cute together. Obviously, Snow White also meets the Seven Dwarfs, she leaves the Kingdom because her step-mum is trying to kill her. When you think about it, it is a dark storyline, but the show is very light, with it being a panto. Then she meets the Prince and falls in love, and they live happily ever after!

Have you always been a fan of pantomime?

Yeah, I used to go and see pantos when I was a kid, and I would sometimes be one of the dancers when I was a toddler. And after I left Corrie I did Cinderella, which was the first proper panto that I did at the Lowry Theatre. I've not done anything in panto since then so I'm a bit nervous about getting into singing and full-on dancing again, but it'll be good fun, and everybody seems to love panto, so I'm excited.

I understand you have a fair amount of theatre experience yourself?

Yeah, I used to perform in theatre before I got into acting. I was mainly a dancer in theatre, so I did the dancing, a little bit of singing, and then it was straight onto acting. My career sort of changed once I got onto telly quite quickly.

You really made your name as Katy Harris on Coronation Street. What were the highlights of your time on the soap, and were there any scenes or storylines which you found difficult to perform?

It was so long ago now! The most difficult storyline was actually the one which led to me leaving, when Katy had to kill her dad and then she overdosed on sugar because she was diabetic, which led to her going into a coma, and then she passed away. They were pretty dark scenes, and they took quite a toll on me personally. I was crying 24/7 on set, so it's hard to leave that at work, and you end up taking it home. So, towards the end of my career at Corrie, I think that was the hardest bit, just because it was quite a heavy storyline for me. It was brilliant, amazing and challenging, so I did love it, but I was sort of ready for it to end as well. I loved my time there, though: my mates are still there, I met my hubby (Alan Halsall) when doing Corrie and he's still there. So, I still have a lot of love for Corrie; it's like family.

From there, you moved onto Wild At Heart, where you became a regular character as Rosie Trevanion. Are there any interesting stories you can tell from filming in South Africa?

Oh, there's so many! The animals never played ball. We'd be waiting for an hour for an elephant to turn up, and then it would decide that it didn't want to and it'd storm off set, so we'd be like "Okay, we're not doing that scene!" Giraffes would fall into the water, and this one day we had to finish by helping to dig this giraffe out of a pool that it had fallen into. Lions were escaping on-set (laughs) ... it was chaos! It looked magical and really easy on telly, but it was one of the hardest jobs that I've done, because the heat was intense, but we had to work around the animals, and they just didn't want to be on-set a lot of the time! So, it was brilliant, and it was amazing to be working up close and personal with the animals, but if they didn't want to do it, they'd let you know about it!

Earlier this year, you appeared on Dance Dance Dance, where you finished 2nd. How was that experience?

It was amazing! Harder than I thought; I thought I'd get in there and be like "Yeah, I can do it!" Oh my God, I was dying; by the end of the first week, I was done! I genuinely loved that; I started off in dancing, and I still have a passion for dance, even though I hadn't done it for over 18 years. So I wanted to do it. I had to push myself to some limits, but I really, really enjoyed it. That also got me back in panto, because being on stage made me want to do panto.

What are your future ambitions within your career?

I've just filmed a BBC drama which is out next spring with Robson Green. So, that opened a door for me getting into dramas that are quite serious, which I really want to do more of, things like the short six-parters. So, I loved that and I'd like that to continue.

Of course, this panto will be taking place over the run-up to Christmas. Can you tell us what the worst Christmas present is that you've ever received?

I can't wait for Christmas; if I could have my Christmas tree up all year round, then it would be up all year round. I love the lights, I love the songs; I love everything about Christmas! So, panto is perfect for me. As for my worst Christmas present ... I think I got a bangle from one of the markets, and it ended up going green after like one day. That was from an in-law, I won't say who, and I obviously don't have that anymore! (Laughs)

Finally, why should the St. Helens audience come to see Snow White?

For a start, it's got Johnny Vegas in it as the Magic Mirror. The cast are lovely, the script is very funny, and St. Helens Theatre Royal is a very intimate theatre, so you're gonna feel like you're a part of it. The songs are mega for all the kids, and it's gonna be a lot of fun. So, I think it will be magical, and it's the lead-up to Christmas where you'll want to see a panto, so you must come down!

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs runs at St. Helens Theatre Royal from Saturday December 2 to Sunday January 7 2018. To book your tickets, click here.

Theatre Interview: Cheryl Fergison & David Heath - "You Come Out Of This Show With A Feel-Good Factor"

Image Source: Bill Elms

Written By: Mark Armstrong

The Wizard Of Oz is a timeless classic of a story, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2019. Before that, though, Dorothy and company are coming to life on the stage in an exciting pantomime for all of the family to enjoy. The show heads to the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool next weekend, but before then, we spoke to two of the stars from this production, Cheryl Fergison and David Heath, on their characters, their careers and their futures!

First of all, tell us about your characters in The Wizard Of Oz.

Cheryl Fergison: I'm playing the Wicked Witch Of The West, which I thoroughly enjoy because, since Heather Trott was such a nice character in EastEnders, it's really good to be playing a baddie and making lots of children cry for a little bit! (Laughs) It's a great part, and I get to be quite nasty in a cheeky kind of way, so I like that.

David Heath: I get to play the lovable Scarecrow. So, I'm Dorothy's first friend that she gets to meet. He's quite funny, quite dozy, and I love the character; I can act silly and not be serious, so that's good! (Laughs)

What previous pantomime and theatre experience do the two of you have?

Cheryl: This will be my third time working on this particular show. I only come back to shows that I really enjoy doing. I'm also about to do a panto in Carlisle; I've been doing panto for the last few years since I left Eastenders. But I do a lot of shows; I'm touring on a show called Menopause: The Musical next year, which I've been touring on for the last couple of years as well. So, there's a lot of theatre for me at the moment; I've done the odd bits of telly, but it's mainly theatre for me right now.

David: I've done pantomime myself, firstly as a dancer, and then I went on to playing different characters. It's nice to be playing the Scarecrow this time because I'm usually always the Prince, so I get to act a bit different and a bit sillier than in the Prince role. So, I do a lot of pantomimes. I've got one at Christmas also, but this one is just brilliant and magical for the whole family. There's a lot of things going on; they've got fire, pyrotechnics, glitter and everything. It's a great pantomime to be in; it's fun as well, with lots of new songs. It's really good, and it's got a real dog as well.

Cheryl: It's a great show, it's very modern, it's good for the families, and also it's a chance to be a bit nasty to make some of the young people cry. Chantelle Nolan, the producer of the show, slotted in loads of stuff that's gonna be great for the younger ones. There's UV scenes, there's puppets, and that kinds of brings it back round for the ones who may cry, to realise that nothing is as scary as it seems. It's a lot of fun, it's a really fun show. It's definitely the one thing that people should see during half-term in one of the three venues.

David: There's also some great talent including singers and actors. The kids will know all of the different songs; it's just a fantastic production to be honest.

Cheryl, how did you land the part of Heather Trott in EastEnders back in 2007?

Cheryl: I was in EastEnders two years previously playing Heather. You can't go into the show again until two years later, and the story was that I'd been in prison with Kat Slater for a couple of episodes. So, two years later, they wrote the part of Heather, and the casting person there (Julia Crampsie) said "I know somebody who could do this." So, they offered it to me first, I went in and read for the part. I thought other people were going to come in and read for it, but luckily I got it. I was only meant to be in it for about five episodes, or something like that, but then five years later I was still in it! So, it was brilliant. I loved it.

You've also appeared on many other television shows over the last ten years. what have been some of the highlights of this part of your career?

Cheryl: I would say that every show that I could participate in was a highlight for me, because it means that you're working, which is very, very good! (Laughs) That's always good for an actor. I've worked for some amazing people, and I'm still learning. I love going into new places within theatre and television and learning from all my peers, and even from the younger performers. It's what keeps me going. I've had a lot of highlights; EastEnders is obviously the main highlight. But I always say that my career highlights are still yet to come.

David: I think it was meeting me!

Cheryl: Yeah, it was meeting you! (Laughs)

David, you made your name as a member of Eton Road on the first series of The X Factor. How was this experience, and was there more pressure given that, despite knowing each other for a long time, the group had only officially formed a few days in advance?

David: Yeah, there was a lot of pressure at the time, but we absolutely loved the experience. I was only young at the time, so I wish that I knew then what I know now. But the whole experience was just absolutely fantastic. We got to be on TV every weekend with our best friends and to perform on the live shows. Then, we got to do The X Factor arena tour straight afterwards, which was an unreal experience to be touring the country in every arena, and I got to present it as well, so it was just surreal. I couldn't believe that I'd just come out of college and went straight into all of that.

Your career has taken on different directions since then, and you are currently running a dance school named Attitude Dance. When did this begin, and what does your work involve?

David: I'd trained in a musical theatre course in college, and I got my teaching qualification there, but obviously I went straight onto TV and I didn't get to use it. So, once I'd done all of the things that came from it, I thought that I wanted to come back to my hometown and I wanted to perform. I wanted to give what I've learned to the children in my local area, and to get them off the streets. Where I live in Bootle had received such a bad name around it, so I wanted to show that there was good about the area. There's good talent there, there's good people there, so I decided to open a dance school. I've been running it for seven years now, and we teach all different styles including commercial, street, lyrical and ballet, and for the whole family we have fitness classes for all ages. The youngest kid that we have is 4, and the oldest lady that we have is 65.

What are the future plans for you both?

David: I'd love to keep performing; I love to perform, hence why I'm in The Wizard Of Oz. I also want to make my dancing school as big as possible, as well as to hopefully open a college in the future, and to move it onto the next generation in that way.

Cheryl: Just to keep getting work, that's the plan! (Laughs) Seriously, I am moving up to the North-West from London very soon, so I may keep an eye out for Corrie or Emmerdale, or maybe I could be a Hollyoaks babe, I don't know! (Laughs)

Finally, why should the Liverpool audience come to see The Wizard Of Oz?

David: I've brought my little niece to come and watch it. She came as Dorothy, and she was so amazed at the glitz and the fireworks. She's only two, and she never stopped staring at the stage, the fire, the fireworks, the colour, and she loved the music. Plus, as I mentioned, there's a real dog on stage, and the characters are so true to how they should be based on those playing them; Cheryl was so involved with her Witch character. So, I think that the show is just so magical, and it's supporting a Liverpool-run company as well.

Cheryl: I think it's one of those shows where you come out with that feel-good factor. You can come with your family, or you could come on your own. It is meant for everybody, and there's something in it for everyone, so everybody will identify with it, and the story is fantastic. So I think it's something that you must come and see; come out of your home, come away from the television, and just have a great memory with your family or your friends.

The Wizard Of Oz runs at The Epstein Theatre from Friday October 27 to Sunday October 29. To book your tickets, click here.

Theatre Interview: Claire Sweeney & Warren Donnelly - "There's Nothing Quite Like Pantomime"

Image Source:
St. Helens Theatre Royal

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Nothing beats a good panto. Whether you're young, old or somewhere in between, a pantomime is a great experience filled with capers, music, dancing and a fair few risqué jokes! Sleeping Beauty is the next such panto on the agenda, as it heads to St. Helens Theatre Royal. Before the cast down their hats, frocks and capes, we spoke to two of the main players in Sleeping Beauty, Claire Sweeney and Warren Donnelly, who provided an insight into the show and their backgrounds in pantomime, theatre and beyond!

First of all, tell us about your roles in Sleeping Beauty.

Warren Donnelly: Well, I'm the King, a nice jolly King who rules the nice jolly Kingdom, but who unfortunately tangles with the evil Carabosse. So, it's a very nice role, it's a funny role, there's lots of excitement and adventure, and I'm having a whale of a time doing it.

Claire Sweeney: I play the evil Queen Carabosse. She's an absolute horror! She's pure evil through and through, but by the end of the show, she sees the light and becomes good!

What previous pantomime experience do the two of you have?

Warren: There have been many, many great pantomimes. They're always great.

Claire: We've had one together; we did a panto together at the Liverpool Empire, so it's nice to be back working together again!

Warren: The one thing about a panto is that there's nothing else quite like it, so it's all good fun.

Claire, what led to your big break playing Lindsey Corkhill on Brookside in 1989?

Claire: I simply auditioned and got the part. That was it, really. I was a singer before that. I'd done loads and loads of singing, and I hadn't done any acting. Brookside was my first acting role, so I kind of learned on the job.

Warren, tell us about your career prior to earning the role of Stan Waterman in Shameless.

Warren: I was very lucky. I was just an actor auditioning for lots of things, doing a lot of theatre shows and some bits of television, and out of the blue, an audition came through for Shameless for what was meant to be one episode, and it carried on from there.

Claire, since leaving Brookside, you've appeared on many television programmes including Celebrity Big Brother and Loose Women. What were some of your highlights from this period of your career?

Claire: The highlight of my career was performing in Guys and Dolls on the West End, working opposite Patrick Swayze. That was definitely my career highlight.

As you mention, you've also built up quite the theatre career. which productions stand out as being particularly significant for you, and what is the difference between performing in a major theatre show and performing in a pantomime?

Claire: I suppose there is a lot more discipline in a major stage show, as it's a lot more regimental and stricter. We do need some discipline when performing a panto, but there is more freedom to go off-script and have a little bit more fun, I suppose. You also break the fourth wall with panto; you turn and talk to the audience, whereas when I was performing in Tell Me On A Sunday or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you don't stop to talk to the audience.

Warren, you've also appeared in other television shows and movies. How was the experience of being on set for Going Off Big Time and Millions?

Warren: It was good fun. Going Off Big Time was really fun to shoot. It was the same with Millions; to be honest with you, for all the acting experience that I've had, I haven't had too many bad ones. It's good to be working, and it's good to be doing a variety of things in panto and film. They've all got their own disciplines; they're all about working hard and having fun. If you're an actor performing and you're working with nice people, you've got nothing to complain about!

Warren, you recently played Geoff Smith in Holby City. What are your future plans within television?

Warren: I'm doing a television job immediately after this pantomime, and then after that, who knows? It's the life of an actor; you go from job to job or you don't, but you're constantly looking for work, you're constantly pushing yourself and promoting yourself, and you see what happens. It's not like a lot of careers where you know what you're doing from one week to the next, or from one month to the next. Quite often, you don't know. You might think that you're doing nothing, and then you get one phone call from your agent and suddenly you're mad busy. So, I'm going to keep on doing what I've always done, and that's keeping on, as the old cliché goes.

Finally, tell us why people should come along to St. Helens Theatre Royal to see Sleeping Beauty?

Claire: Well, first of all, it's half term, so it's something great for the kids to do during half term, which is lovely! I have to say that the cast is phenomenal. I've been working with them all; Warren is a brilliant actor anyway, but the rest of the cast has just great talent. It's a beautiful show, there are great songs in it, and there's lots of laughter in it. I just think it's something brilliant for the kids to do during half term.

Warren: What always amazes me is that even though we're living in 2017, where children are so sophisticated, what the children and families still like is a good story that is well-told. There's songs, there's dances and there's loads of audience participation. Also, the Theatre Royal up here in St. Helens is lovely; it's a hidden gem. So over half time, why not get your kids out, take them to see a very good show, and you never know, they might decide in years to come to do a bit of acting, singing and dancing themselves. I used to go to pantos myself as a little boy, and I used to love it, so why not get them out of the house and see our show!

Sleeping Beauty runs at St. Helens Theatre Royal from Saturday October 21 to Sunday October 29. To book your tickets, click here.

Dane Bowers: "Peter Pan Is Going To Be Special"

Image Source: Twitter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

There aren't many things that Dane Bowers hasn't done, from singing to DJ'ing to starring in television programmes. But pantomime is a world that he is about to place a great focus upon as he performs in the role of Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Epstein Theatre for the Christmas and New Year season. We spoke to Dane about the show, his career so far and why this production will take pantomime to - yes! - Another Level.

Firstly, tell us about your character in Peter Pan.

I'm playing Captain Hook, which I'm looking forward to. I haven't decided what kind of Hook I'm going to be yet, as there have been loads of Peter Pan films. With me, you can't really beat Hook, which starred Dustin Hoffman as Hook. So, I think that's where I'm going to get my inspiration from.

Will this mark your debut in pantomime?

No, I've done one before. I did a panto in Northwich a few years ago, where I was Prince Charming in Cinderella. So, I'm really looking forward to being a baddie, as you can have a lot of fun with it.

You're best known for being a part of the band Another Level. How did the formation of the group come about?

We actually went to a performing art's school. Two of us did, anyway; I went to The Brit School. And I didn't really sing; drama was what I did. Singing was something that I knew I could do, but it wasn't something that I really concentrated on. So I was lucky that I fell into it with another guy, Wayne (Williams), who had already met up with record labels. They asked me to be a part of this project, and it was the greatest choice that I ever made, I guess (laughs).

What would you consider to have been your favourite songs from Another Level?

Freak Me was obviously a big one because it was #1, and it was the song that people would look at now. But people forget that Be Alone No More was our first ever single. Jay-Z was on that tune, which at the time was phenomenal. We worked with Wu-Tang; I did a really good song which I loved with Calised, which was for Phil Collins' album that everybody did. It was us, Brandy and Lil Kim, so that was a good song. There's been some good ones, but Freak Me is hard to top.

Another Level reunited for The Big Reunion, but you chose not to participate, later becoming part of the 5th Story group which brought together multiple soloists. Tell us why you chose to go down this route rather than reforming the original band?

We were going to do Another Level, but two of the guys were um'ing and ah'ing about it anyway. At the time, Mark (Baron) was married to Louise Sugar, and worked for Alan Sugar, so for him to get that amount of time off would have been difficult, and one of the other guys lived in New York. They'd been asking us to do it for years, and we were close, but we just couldn't do it. So then the show (producers) asked me to be involved in this other group (5th Story). I'd done something like that before, but I knew the other people in it so I thought it'd be good fun, so I just said "Yes, let's do it".

Do you still keep in touch with the band members now?

I haven't for a while, actually. We're all pretty good friends, though. I saw Bradley not too long ago, though I don't think he was in that one (laughs). As I say, I'd been in another one for MTV before 5th Story. I'm still good friends with Gareth Gates; he's a good lad, and funnily enough he's the biggest p*ss-head on the whole show, so that's always fun! I haven't seen the others in a while, to be honest. We do get on, though; I'm in Dubai a lot at the moment so it's hard to catch up with them at the moment.

What plans do you have for the future?

As I say, I'm in Dubai; I have a TV production that I'm working on there. It's a show called Come Dine Dubai which is me going to different restaurants there and cooking with the head chefs, so that's looking good. I still DJ too; I'm gonna get some DJ gigs while I'm up here in Liverpool to keep that going. Apart from that, though, I can never decide what I want to do!

Finally, tell us why people should see Peter Pan.

I was saying before that for me, pantomime is a great institution in England; I think that every kid should go and watch panto. You need to get them away from the computer and to come and watch it. It's great for the adults too as well; Michael Chapman, who is writing the script, is very close to the lines so there'll be a lot of adult humour. So if you bring your kids, you're still going to enjoy it. Plus it's Peter Pan, which is going to be very different for a panto. We've all seen Cinderella and Snow White shows which are amazing, but Peter Pan is going to be special.

Peter Pan will head into the Epstein Theatre from Friday December 8 to Monday January 1 2018. To book your tickets, click here.

Claire Simmo: "Peter Pan Is The One Panto Not To Miss!"

Image Source: Claire Simmo

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Claire Simmo is one of the more recognisable voices in the city, due to her work on Radio City 2 alongside the likes of Simon Ross. But she has other talents that she can bring to the forefront, and they will be on display as she waves her magic fairy dust as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, this year's big Christmas pantomime at the Epstein Theatre. We spoke to Claire about Peter Pan, her career in radio, and her least favourite Christmas present to date!

First of all, tell us about your character in Peter Pan.

My character is Tinkerbell. I think that Tinkerbell is my favourite role to play, because not only does she get lots of sparkle and lots of glitz, but she's also quite mischievous! She has this really innocent face, but she really gets away with murder! (Laughs)

Have you always been a fan of pantomime, and what other productions have you previously starred in?

I did my very first panto here when it was the Neptune, because I'd trained at Elliott-Clarke (Dance & Drama). I played Sleeping Beauty, and since then, I've done countless pantos in St. Helens Theatre Royal. I've played Tinkerbell before, and I've played Glinda in The Wizard Of Oz, plus I did a stint in Southport as well. But it's just so nice because I've waited so many years to work with (producer) Lee Kelly and it's never happened. So, this year when I got the call, I went "Yes!" because this is what I wanted to do. There's also such an amazing cast.

How did you break into radio, and what advice would you give to anyone looking to break into radio themselves?

As I say, I trained at Elliott-Clarke Dance & Drama for three years. I've always wanted to be on stage, and I've always wanted to sing. Then, I was just driving into work one morning, and I heard Kev Seedy on the radio saying that the travel girl was off and would anyone like to come in and have a go? So, I just went "I can do that!" I went in and did it and the rest, as they say, is history! I was literally just in the right place at the right time. It's a hard industry to get into nowadays, so you've got to be prepared to work a lot for very little money, and realise that you're totally replaceable at any time! (Laughs)

What would you consider to be the highlights of your radio career so far?

There are so many highlights of my radio career. A lot of mine relate to getting involved with the charities like Alder Hey and to work with When You Wish Upon A Star, and to do so many different things out in the city. I'm very lucky that we get to meet some of nice people, I get to go to the theatre all of the time. I just love what I do. I love every single part of my job.

Any interesting stories that you can tell from your career?

There was one time when I was on stage in panto, when I was working with Kurtis Stacey and we were doing Jack And The Beanstalk together. There was a scene where he had to bash into the back of me, and because he's quite a big, muscly lad, every night it would get harder and harder. Then, this one night, he bashed into me that hard that I whizzed across the stage, nearly fell off the edge and grabbed the scenery, pulled all the scenery down, and they had to stop the show! That is like my worst moment ever! After that, it was like "Here's 'break the scenery' Simmo!" That was possibly my most embarrassing moment, over in St. Helens Theatre Royal; they haven't let me back in since! (Laughs)

The panto will be taking place in the run-up to Christmas. Is this usually a busy time of year for you, and what is the worst Christmas present that you've received?

Oh, good grief! Christmas is the busiest time for me. I love Christmas; it's my favourite time of year. Probably the worst Christmas present I have ever had; a few years ago, they used to do Soap On A Rope. I remember getting this blue one off my auntie, and she was made up. If it had been pink, I probably could have gotten away with it! But it was blue, and she was like "Oh look, it can hang over the bath!" And I was like "I don't think so, no!" (Laughs)

Will your family and friends be coming to watch you in Peter Pan?

I've already bullied most of my family and friends into booking tickets to see the show! Everyone knows as far as I go that if I'm in a panto, then you have to come otherwise there'll be all kinds of trouble! But most of my friends and family do come and watch anyway. Normally, my daughter dances and she manages to get into the pantos, but she's like 5'9 now even though she's only 11, and she's too tall to get to audition this year! So, I'll be doing it solo this year, which is quite weird, but I'm looking forward to it. It's a break from the kids, yay! (Laughs)

Finally, why should the Liverpool audience come to see Peter Pan this year?

I think they should come because it is 22 years since Peter Pan has been done here at the Epstein. It's one of those shows that is different, and it's great for the younger boys as well because often, with Cinderella and Snow White, it can seem to be all-girly with the big dresses, but here you've got the male characters for the lads, while for the girls you've still got the sparkly Tinkerbell and the Wendy and the Tiger Lily. Plus, I'd imagine with Michael Chapman writing it that there's gonna be a few innuendos in it for the adults as well! (Laughs) I just think it's gonna be the one panto not to miss!

Peter Pan will head into the Epstein Theatre from Friday December 8 to Monday January 1 2018. To book your tickets, click here.

Leanne Campbell & Dean Sullivan: "The Perfect Production For The Perfect Venue"

Image Source: The Guide Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Aladdin will be bringing a ton of Christmas cheer to Echo Arena Auditorium this winter, and it looks set to be the best pantomime yet at Liverpool's big arena. Two well-known Liverpudlians with vastly different backgrounds, Leanne Campbell and Dean Sullivan, are playing starring roles in the production, and so we sat down with both to chat about Aladdin, their careers to date and the wonderful world of pantomime!

First of all, discuss your characters in the Aladdin production.

Dean Sullivan: Well, I'm playing Abanazar. It's a part that I've played around six times before, so if I haven't got it right by the time that this show happens, I'm in trouble! (Laughs)

Leanne Campbell: And I live in his ring! (Laughs)

Dean: She robs my ring twice daily! (Laughs)

Leanne: I live in his magic ring, and I bring the goodness into the panto!

Have you both been fans of pantomime?

Dean: I've been in pantos for a long time. You've been doing pantos for a long time as well, haven't you?

Leanne: Yes, since I was a kid, and always in Liverpool. Well, I've gone slightly outside, but never too far away, because when Liverpool comes up, you jump at it. The audiences are just wild, the kids are amazing ... I think it's a real part of Liverpool's heritage now. I grew up going to the pantomimes with my nan and grandad, and people have routines to go on the likes of Christmas Eve. They wouldn't dream of not going to the panto with their kids on Christmas Eve, as it's part of the tradition.

Dean: So, we are the ones who work the hardest over Christmas! Two shows on Boxing Day!

Leanne: This year, we've got a nice little run, we finish on Christmas Eve so you've gotta be quick and book your tickets, because it'll all sell out really quickly. It's a massive venue, but I think there's so much love, from the people involved this year who've done it so many times before. The people are coming to watch them, and we're part of their Christmas.

What are some of the more memorable pantomimes that you've contributed to in the past?

Dean: That's a hard one. I think I've done all of the pantos that there are to do, from The Sheriff Of Nottingham to Babes In The Wood, and as I say, I've played Abanazar about six times already. Also, two years ago in Stockport, I was offered the Dame. If you are involved in any pantomime production, you'll know that the Dame works really, really hard. You're never really off the stage much besides when you're in the wings, putting on your next costume. So, it was a very busy show; I never stopped. So, I played the Dame and I loved every minute of it, but it nearly killed me.

Leanne: Would you ever play the Dame again?

Dean: I would, because it's great fun to do, but you really earn your money. It's hard work, as you have a busy old time. As Abanazar, I spend most of the time in the dressing room, which is great; I put my feet up and have a glass of wine, reading the paper ... I shouldn't have said that! (Laughs) But with the Dame, you're on constantly, all of the time. You really do earn your money because you are busy. It was a great part to play.

Leanne: It's lovely. There's all of the classic roles like Cinderella, Snow White - the beautiful role to play. The costumes are gorgeous and you get to sing the sweet songs as well. But my character in this show, the Slave Of The Ring, is the funniest character. Hopefully, I'm going to bring a lot of Liverpool to it, a lot of what people already know about me on Radio City. If you listen to me there, you'll know my sense of humour, and it's going to be a good old laugh. It's like me and him, tongue-in-cheek, and every show will be a different show.

Dean: So book your tickets now!

Dean, what would you consider to be the highlights of your time in Brookside as Jimmy Corkhill, and of your career in television post-Brookside?

Dean: That's an interesting question. People used to say to me that you were there for 18 years, so why did you stay for so long in that one part? I used to say that it was because of the scripts and the storylines. My contract used to be renewed every 12 months, and I would say to Phil Redmond "What have you got coming up? What's going to happen to Jimmy?" And they would always be fantastic storylines.

The two highlights on Brookside were definitely the drugs storyline, which ran for many, many years and had lots of different aspects to it, and the big storyline towards the end of the show, which ran for a few years as well, which was the mental health storyline. Jimmy was diagnosed with bi-polar manic depression, and that was a very, very interesting part to play. I didn't know anything about it at the time, so I conducted a lot of research into it. I didn't know much about drugs either, so there was research involved in that storyline too. Essentially, when we were doing those hard-hitting storylines, we had a responsibility to get it right. I used to say that I was only acting it, but there are people out there who are living it. so you had a sense of responsibility to them to tell their story, and to tell it correctly and with respect. They were the two big highlights, but I loved all of my time there over the 18 years, and it went by just like that.

Since then, I've played a few different bits and pieces, but there's been nothing that has really grabbed me. I've often made guest appearances in shows like Doctors and The Royal. But unfortunately, in playing and creating such a big, iconic character, you're often making a rod for your own back, because a lot of people are then a bit frightened of casting you in another role because they think that you can only play that one particular part. And it's nonsense because you're an actor, and you can play any role really. But I can never be taken away; I'll be down in the television history books. I've got all sorts of awards at home for playing the part. So, it's been fantastic.

What other projects would interest you for the future?

Dean: I'm leaning now towards the directing side of things. I've directed an original show about the first World War poet Wilfred Owen. A friend of mine wrote all of the songs, and I directed them for a tour of the North-West, which was fantastic. I like being on the other side of it, and having the responsibility of a whole production.

Leanne, how did you break into radio, and what advice would you have for anyone reading this who would be looking to pursue a career in radio?

Leanne: Try and get an afternoon slot! (Laughs) Early mornings are killers. The advice would be to just go for it, but not necessarily down the usual avenues. I was a trained actress; I'd just filmed The Ward, I'd been off to London to train, I came back, and I was doing a play at the Royal Court when a gentleman waited for me at the stage door. He said that I'd built up a name for myself, as I'd played Annie at the Playhouse as a child, and people seem to know who I was, so could he introduce me to a career in radio? The answer was no, as I couldn't talk; was it a script or a play? No, I could just be myself. And it was scary, but it was the best thing that I've ever done, because I love it. It is exactly what I should be doing. To go down the same route that I thought I was supposed to be going down; sometimes, when you stray from that path, the best things happen. I went on to win a Sony award in London ...

Dean: Well, you are fantastic on the show!

Leanne: Oh, thank you! My tips, then, would be to just be yourself, don't try to be anybody other than yourself. Sometimes, you'll make mistakes, but that's just part and parcel of it. Just be you, and just be honest, and if people like you, then you're onto a good thing!

What are your thoughts on Pete Price scaling down his radio career?

Leanne: I think it's a great move for him. He's seventy-odd; I can't imagine myself being able to string a sentence together in my forties, never mind my seventies! The guy is a legend for doing it for as long as he has done and to still create a brilliant show. When he told me about it, I was like "It's good for you." It's got a retro feel to it for those who remember the heritage Radio City of vibe, and it was always on a Sunday night. I was guilty of doing the prank calls to Pete Price before I knew him; it's part of growing up, and now I'll happily encourage my kids to do the same! (Laughs) If he's only gonna be on on a Sunday, I'll just do one call so he doesn't know my number! (Laughs)

What is the difference between performing panto in a theatre and performing in an arena, as it will be in Echo Arena Auditorium for Aladdin?

Leanne: Well, it's in a theatre within an arena. So, it's going to have the same theatre vibe, it's not like we'll be plonked in the middle with the audience all around us; it's a real theatre set-up. It's a beautiful Auditorium, it's quite similar and like a larger version of the Floral Pavilion in Southport with the circular environment.

Dean: When I said to people that I was going to be playing the Echo Arena this year to star in Aladdin, they said "What, in the arena?" And I said no, it's got a separate, purpose-built theatre just like the Empire. the Royal Court and the Neptune (or the Epstein as it's called now).

Leanne: Disney have brought their children's shows here, I took my kids to see them, and it's the perfect venue for children. Especially if they're under 10, and if they're that little that they need to just have a little walk-about to stretch their legs, this is the perfect venue. So, if you've never brought your kids to the theatre before, for me this is the ideal place to bring those little ones. You can test the waters, see how they last and stuff. It's the perfect venue, and the perfect production.

Finally, what should the audience look forward to when they come to see Aladdin?

Leanne: Me and him! (Laughs)

Dean: It's a show packed with fun, songs and laughter.

Leanne: The music is outrageous, the sets are outrageous, the costumes are outrageous, there's magic for the children, funny moments ...

Dean: And you've got us!

Aladdin will fly into Echo Arena Auditorium from Friday December 15 to Sunday December 24. To book your tickets, click here.

Jessica Johann: "Everyone Is Really Excited For Aladdin"

Image Source: Twitter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Aladdin will be flying into Echo Arena Auditorium this Christmas, and at the centre of it all will be Jessica Johann. A talented up-and-coming actress, singer and dancer currently studying at Liverpool Media Academy (LMA), this production marks something of a big break for Jessica, as she will be playing the part of Princess Jasmine, a much sought-after part which more than 300 aspiring actresses auditioned for. We spoke to Jessica to find out more about her role, her training and her future ambitions!

First of all, tell us about your character in Aladdin.

I'm going to be playing Princess Jasmine. She is the Princess who lives in this world with Aladdin, and eventually, she and Aladdin fall in love!

Are you a big fan of pantomimes yourself?

Oh yeah, of course! When I was younger, growing up, I would always come and watch the pantos in Liverpool, so I'm really excited to be a part of one!

The audition process sounded pretty tough in terms of numbers!

It was absolutely incredible! It was really exciting because there were so many amazing girls who were auditioning, and they were all really talented, so the pressure was on! It was a real competition, so I feel really lucky and I am very grateful that I was given the part.

How are things going with your studies at LMA?

It's going great! In LMA, we're always doing performances in the Epstein Theatre, in St. George's Hall and other venues. This is really, really good to get experience, especially when you are training. So, it's going really well!

What are your future ambitions within theatre?

Well, I hope to one day be performing on the West End or to eventually go into film and TV. I've got lots of dreams! I'm just working up to it, and we'll see what happens!

You'll be busy working in this pantomime production in the run-up to Christmas this year. Are you looking forward to Christmas more than usual for that reason?

All my family are so excited, and this panto is running up until Christmas Eve. So, once the panto is over, we're all going to celebrate and enjoy Christmas together, so it's going to be a very exciting December, definitely.

What other interests do you have outside of theatre?

Well, not much really! (Laughs) It's mostly theatre, but I have always loved dancing, singing and acting; they have always been my hobbies. I like art as well, and I like to paint sometimes. That's mostly what I do! (Laughs)

Will your family be coming along to see the show?

All of my family will be coming along to see me, definitely! They're all really excited. I'll have lots of friends from uni coming as well. So, everyone is really excited for the show.

Finally, why should people come along to see Aladdin?

I think that people should come along to see Aladdin because I don't think there is going to be a panto like it this year. The cast is unbelievable; we've got so many amazing people in this production. We've also got a flying carpet! I think it's going to be really exciting for the kids to watch, and for the family as well. It's gonna be a lot of fun, and you really don't want to miss out!

Aladdin will fly into Echo Arena Auditorium from Friday December 15 to Sunday December 24. To book your tickets, click here.

Nikki Grahame: "Beauty & The Beast Is Going To Be Such A Good Show"

Image Source: Bill Elms
Associates

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St. Helens Theatre Royal

With Beauty & The Beast recently hitting cinemas, it's pretty good timing that an Easter pantomime production of the classic B&TB story would be coming to St. Helens Theatre Royal. Starring Amy Thompson, Nikki Grahame, Liam Mellor and more, the show promises a lot of fun, laughs, songs and possibly a few "egg-citing" surprises over the course of its Easter run. We spoke to Nikki about her role in the show, as well as her previous Big Brother experience and her hopes for the future.

First of all, tell us about your role as Fairy Rose in Beauty & The Beast.

My role is to make Belle and the Prince fall in love. That's my mission, and the Prince actually got poisoned and turned into a Beast, so if The Princess (Belle) falls in love with the Beast, she'll see the true Prince underneath. He'll transform from the Beast into the Prince, and they'll have their "Happily Ever After!"

I understand you have previous pantomime experience as a part of Cinderella at the Epstein Theatre in 2012, how was that experience?

I love the Epstein Theatre. Cinderella was such an exciting run, and I also just love being in Liverpool. I was the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and I get to be the Fairy again. So, it's a very exciting time.

This will be your second panto in the North-West. What is it like to perform in front of the Liverpool audience, which will extend to St Helens for Beauty & The Beast?

I just love Liverpool, and the Scousers in general! Everybody is so friendly; I always notice the difference, coming from London to Liverpool, because everybody's so friendly here, whereas in London, everybody's stressed, it can be a bit cold. But here, everybody' so, so friendly, and it's so nice. So watching the audience reactions, seeing them laughing; it's so rewarding. It doesn't feel like work at all.

Tell us your thoughts on the cast for this show.

Everyone's been cast perfectly. It's a really, really great cast. I think we're gonna have a lot of fun with the accents and stuff. I was watching the rehearsals yesterday, just thinking "This is going to be such a good show!" Everyone's just really throwing themselves into it, and it's gonna be great.

You rose to fame as a contestant in Big Brother in 2006. Tell us why you applied to go on Big Brother and how you found out you had been chosen, and what were some of the biggest challenges of being on the reality show?

I have always been such a huge Big Brother fan. I still am; I haven't missed a series since it started, and obviously since being on the show myself. To have been on it, and to have been called on it was just a dream come true. I'm so honoured and lucky to have been able to do that; it's completely transformed my life, and I've had some incredible experiences from that, and I've been very, very thankful to that show.

As for the challenges: battling with the air conditioning, sharing the bedroom with 12 other housemates, there were lots of very unpleasant smells (laughs), the bathroom was putrid, there were hair extensions all over the floor - there were lots and lots of challenges! I look back on it with fond memories, though, and I'm still really good friends with quite a few of them, actually. I see Imogen quite a lot, and Aisleyne, they're always on the London scene, and we're friends on Facebook. I met up with Grace last time I was in Liverpool, she's up here with Mikey. I'm still friends with Glyn on social media, Pete too ... we all shared a really special experience together.

Tell us about the Nikki for JYY.London clothing range which launched in September 2015.

I got to try my hand in fashion, which was a lot of fun. That would be something that I would like to continue in the future.

What other future ambitions do you have?

Wow ... I'd love to maybe go in the jungle one day (for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!), and prove everybody wrong, because I think everybody thinks that I would really struggle, but I would love to throw myself into it, and eat some bugs maybe! (Laughs)

Finally, what can the St Helens audience expect from Beauty & The Beast?

I think that the show is filled with energy, the costumes are just amazing and they're all hand-made, and it's gonna be a really uplifting, exciting, surprising show. It's gonna be great; the music is exciting, with some really catchy songs. Plus, Beauty & The Beast is the show of the moment right now, so it's the show to come and see!

Beauty & The Beast will be heading into the St. Helens Theatre Royal from Saturday April 1 to Sunday April 23. To book your tickets, click here.

Lee Brennan: "I Can't Wait To Get Started With Sleeping Beauty"

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Epstein Theatre

Christmas is long gone and the Easter eggs are starting to fill up the shop shelves, which can only mean that the Epstein Theatre's annual Easter pantomime is upon us! This year, it'll be Sleeping Beauty, and another star-studded cast will include 911 star Lee Brennan and home-grown actress Tina Malone. To find out more about how the Epstein Easter extravaganza will provide, we spoke to Lee about Sleeping Beauty, his role in the production and his time as part of 911 ...

First of all, tell us about your role as the Prince in Sleeping Beauty.

This is the first time I've played a Prince, actually. In the past, I've played Peter Pan and Aladdin. I'm gonna bring some energy, fun and cheekiness to the role, and of course I get to kiss the Princess, which is not a bad thing if you're the Prince! (Laughs). I'm looking forward to it; I can't wait to get started in rehearsals.

Who else will be starring alongside you in Sleeping Beauty?

Well, Liverpool will know Tina Malone obviously, she's playing the villain, and we've just got a great cast so we've also got the Fairy, the Princess, the Dame etc. I'm just meeting everybody today and we're gonna have a right laugh; I love meeting a new cast of people, and the more you work together, the better you become on stage as well. So, it's gonna be great.

As you alluded to, you have some previous experience in pantomime.

Yeah, I've done around seven other pantos. I've been Peter Pan four times and Aladdin three times now. So, this is quite a different role for me. With Peter Pan and Aladdin, it's all about big-time energy, and I'm flying around the place on the magic carpet. This one's probably gonna be quite chilled out! I'll still be giving out loads of energy though, even as a chilled-out kind of character. I'm sure that I'll be doing some dance routines as well, so that will be fun.

You are most famous for being a member of the band 911. How did the group originally form?

Jimmy (Constable), who's a Scouser, and "Spike" (Simon Dawbarn), who's from Warrington, were professional street dancers together back in the day, and they used to have a show on ITV called The Hit Man and Her. So, they kind of built up a teen following, and their management helped them to get gigs. I wrote a letter to my radio station in Carlisle (CFM Radio), who were booking Jimmy and Spike for a gig at the time. Their management saw the letter that I wrote to the radio station, and got me to meet them. From there, we met a few more times, and we decided to move in together in Glasgow and start up 911. It was quite organic how it came together; there were no auditions or anything.

Where did the name 911 come from?

Our management had the name already. When I had my first meeting with them, they said that the band was going to be called 911, and I was like "That's cool, a short and sweet and catchy name to remember". So, it came from our management, and they got it from the American emergency services.

What were some of your favourite hits from 911's original run?

Bodyshakin' is probably our biggest fan favourite hit. I love performing that, and it has a great dance routine to it as well. I wrote a song called The Journey, which came from the same album (the first album that we had was called The Journey), and that was about a childhood experience. I had cancer a couple of times when I was a kid, and that song was about that, so that was one of my personal favourites. It's got real meaning to it.

How did it feel to get the band back together as part of The Big Reunion television show and resultant tour?

It was amazing. As soon as ITV approached us, we were like "Hell yeah!" It gave us an opportunity to talk about a lot of things between each other in the band that we hadn't spoken about before. We were really brutally honest with each other about how we felt back in the day, and it kind of cleared a lot of things up. It helped us move forward together as a band, and we've got a lot more respect for each other now.

Finally, what should the Liverpool audience expect from Sleeping Beauty?

It's a great show for all ages, as most pantos are, and doing an Easter panto is great; I'd never heard of an Easter panto before, but it's gonna be amazing. There'll be lots of fun, lots of silliness, lots of singing, lots of dancing, and a good storyline; Sleeping Beauty's a great story! It's gonna be a great family show, so everybody needs to get down and enjoy it, plus the Epstein Theatre is a beautiful theatre to perform in as well.

Sleeping Beauty will be panto'ing its way into the Epstein Theatre from Friday April 7 to Sunday April 23. To book your tickets, click here.

Snow White

Image Source: Mark McNulty

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 13 2016
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England

There have been many memorable and completely different shows at the Empire this year, such as Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, Annie, The Bodyguard, Chicago, Blood Brothers, Cats and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. However, there is only one way that you could end a year at any theatre, especially the Empire, and that is with the annual, star-studded Christmas pantomime.

The show this year is Snow White, and Jorgie Porter leads a cast of stand-out names by playing Snow White. Leanne Campbell plays Queen Morgiana in her fourth consecutive panto appearance at the Empire, Liam Mellor reprises his role of Muddles, Colin Connor acts as Herman The Henchman, Stephen Fletcher is Prince Brian Of Birkenhead, and Pete Price makes a cameo as the face and voice of the Magic Mirror. Oh, and as the title of the show would have you expect, there are appearances by the Seven Dwarves.

The story goes that Queen Morgiana is fearful of Snow White growing up and becoming prettier than her. Her worst fears come true upon Snow White's 18th birthday, at which point Prince Brian turns up and falls in love with the princess. Cue methods of nastiness by Morgiana, some via her fearful yet reluctant henchman Herman, and when it seems like there is no solution to Snow White's woes, her friends - both old and new, and both large and small - provide as much assistance as they can as she strives to maintain her love for the Prince. But with the wicked Morgiana aiming to remove her from the picture so that she can receive an ego-boost for her looks and enhance her own financial security via the Prince's riches, can Snow White succeed?

The costumes for the main characters are excellent; it's odd to see Snow White with blonde hair, but it actually adds something different to this particular version of the show, and in actual fact some may find the blonde-haired Snow White look to be better. The sets are also very good; it's clear that a lot of work has gone into making the settings look as faithful to the story as possible, especially for the home of the Seven Dwarves, which comes complete with miniature chairs and tables. And there are several songs for the audience to join in with, both from the original show and in the form of modern hits or festive tunes, particularly a localised and humorous version of Twelve Days Of Christmas.

As for the performances: all of the cast do a good job, but I was particularly impressed with Colin Connor as Herman The Henchman. His role is a secondary one, but the mix of an Irish accent and a down-to-earth explanation of certain events on stage made for an amusing combination, which along with some strong material, good ad-libbing and suitably-OTT delivery and mannerisms made him a treat to watch, and to me he ended up being the performer who I most remembered when all was said and done. That being said, everyone brings their A-game to the show, and once can easily immerse themselves in the experience due to the believable performances by all. And the jokes, whilst occasionally hit-and-miss, resonated with both children and adults, meaning that the whole family could laugh along with the show.

What helped to make this show seem special was the addition of minor touches: attendees were given treats as they entered, and on sale (from a custom-built store, no less) were a variety of colourful toys for the kids to enjoy and for them to use to join in with some dance numbers. There were also Christmas hits being played beforehand and during intermission, and Xmas adverts were shown on the big screen during the commercial break, all of which added to that warm, fuzzy feeling of festive fun and Christmassy nostalgia.

For those looking for some festive fun and a chance to pass the Christmas panto tradition down to a new generation of youngsters, Snow White at the Empire is a very good option.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

Aladdin

Image Source: Epstein Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Pantomime
Genre: Comedy
Date: December 12 2016
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

The world has changed a lot in 2016, what with Brexit, Donald Trump becoming US President and the imminent demise of Deal Or No Deal (hey, I love the show). However, some things will always remain the same, and fortunately one of them is the annual tradition for Christmas pantomime. Amongst the top shows on offer this winter season is Aladdin, at the Epstein Theatre.

The latest panto production at the Epstein may just be its strongest festive offering yet, as the simple story is told with the addition of interesting characters, extended dance and song routines, and a huge amount of comedy. It is that humour, and the amount of genuinely funny lines and ad-libbed situations, which made this such a treat to watch.

Aladdin tells the tale of the character with the same name (of course), played by Sean Smith, as he looks to find true love in the form of a Princess, and there just happens to be one, Princess Jasmine (Natasha Hamilton) whose arranged marriage with an unknown groom is in the process of being arranged by her mother. The two eventually meet up, fall in love, and it's clear that wedding bells will soon be ringing.

But wait! The evil Abanazar (Tom Burroughs) is after the hand of the Princess herself, mostly for her riches, and it's the magic power of a mysterious lamp which holds the key for him to potentially achieve his goal. Cue all sorts of hilarious interludes, and the frequent appearances of several supporting characters such as Widow Twankey (Michael Chapman), Wishy Washy (Lewis Pryor), the Slave of the Ring (Mark Byron) and, since this is Aladdin, the Genie (Jordan Davies).

After many variations of a similar story regardless of what the show is, the LHK Productions team seem to have realised how to make the most of its positives and how to hide its negatives, because the humour in this show is the funniest yet in an Epstein production. Widow Twankey, played by writer Michael Chapman, is her usual over-the-top and innuendo-driven self, and it's hilarious to see Twankey run down the Genie/Jordan for his perceived lack of acting skills, noting how his celebrity status is the sole reason for him to be involved. But the unsung hero is Mark Byron, another name whose fame originated from reality television; by emphasising his accent and talking like someone off the street rather than the typical dialect that his Slave of the Ring character would normally use, many of his lines got the audience laughing, and in some cases it was just from the way he was talking rather than what he was saying.

Perhaps the highlights of the show were the moments of unexpected humour: an extended version of Twelve Days Of Christmas deliberately became a car crash on stage waiting to happen, but perhaps more than even the characters intended as the song was virtually stopped at one point due to more than one of the actors actually falling behind the curtain due to the break-neck speed of the number. It was clear that they were enjoying themselves just as much as the audience were. And the penultimate (and traditional) portion of the evening where Twankey (who humorously had an adapted version of "Frankie (do you remember me?)" to accompany her on stage) invited several young children to try and sing Old McDonald ended up being a truly memorable situation, as one kid decided not to sing, another belted out his lines incredibly loud, and all had their own mannerisms and behaviours contribute to a pretty funny sing-a-long session. Even Twankey couldn't hide the laughter during some of these performances.

Although the humour was a heavy aspect of the show, and a strong one at that, the music was good too. The stand-out musical performance came from Aladdin and the Princess joining to sing Whole Again; of course, with the Princess being Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton, this felt more like a mini-concert than a panto rendition, and therefore was probably the strongest musical moment ever for an Epstein panto. The settings were also well-constructed to depict the likes of a haunted cave and Twankey's Launderette, and the costumes were well-crafted, if slightly less outlandish (at least for Twankey) than in previous productions. The special effects were very good, especially for a scene involving Aladdin on a magic flying carpet. There was also a nice acknowledgement at the end for Herbert Howe, a longtime panto contributor who passed away earlier this year, as well as a touching moment to invite everyone involved to contribute towards the Save Our Katie appeal.

Some minor negatives were the slightly amateurish transitions between scenes, which meant that the curtains separating the different backgrounds were a bit messy at one point (as in, you could almost see members of the crew walking behind the set during scenes), and the dark lighting was a little too dark when you consider the younger members of the audience. Also, though no fault of the production team, certain attendees seemed to be having too much of a good time, in a sense that some adults were acting far more childish than the kids at various points. However, none of these could even come close to spoiling a really entertaining night of panto.

Aladdin is the Epstein's best pantomime show to date, and one I would give the highest recommendation to for all members of the family.

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding