I think it just about 5 weeks before we start rehearsals for Dick Whittington at the Grand Theatre in Swansea
In fact I've just spent the afternoon going through the script which I think is very funny and I'm looking forward to the show.
I was at the Grand last night to host a big Charity Show organised by the Habibi dancers to raise money for the Dragon Burns Club.
The show had a little Pantomime flavour with two spots from Cwm Musical Youth who presented a selection of songs and scenes from their production on Cinderella which they will present in December.
I have just asked to become the group's President and last night was my first opportunity to see them perform, they were excellent!
Its a real honour to be asked to take on this honourary role and I am delighted to be able to support a group that has been set up to give young people a chance to perform on stage.
Sadly the principle venue used by Cwn Musical Youth was the Gwyn Hall in Neath which was destroyed by fire last Thursday night, just weeks away from its reopening following a £4m refurbishment.
In fact lots of groups have been affected by this but I'm sure that they will all find different venues to put on a show.
I never underestimate the part that Amateur and youth groups make to the development of our business.
One of the groups that I performed with as a youngster in the early 1980's , known locally as Gendros Amateurs also gave a chance to Catherine Zeta Jones to perform and Anthony Lynn who is currently directing Mary Poppins on Broadway.
I believe that any live theatre production must be encouraged and supported!
Back to Panto 2007 however and there's a real anticipation of Panto here in Swansea at the moment! In fact its the number 1 topic of conversation with people that say hi in shops, anywhere where I'm out and about.
Most people are surprised at the short time we have to put the show together but I still am grateful for rehearsal times of 10 - 12 days.
I remember with great affection my first panto at the Grand Pavillion Porthcawl as we met on a Sunday, had our dress on a Friday, then had a day off for Christmas day and opened after a speed line read on Boxing Day! Great fun!
Anyway, 57 days to go!
Make that call to the Grand and book your tickets on 01792 475 715.
I hope that any travelling Panto fans will come and say hi as I would love to give everyone a Swansea Jack welcome.
Monday, 22 October 2007
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Final Panto Roadshow Day
The pre-panto chools tour came to an end today with appearences at schools in Jersey Marine, Baglan, Briton Ferry and Neath.
The first school that I went to was very small with no more than about 60 children, very different to Blaen Baglan where there must have been well over 300 in the school hall.
Below is a lovely piece from tonight's edition of the Evening Post about last week's visit the Penyrheol Primary.
Pupils at Penyrheol Primary School had to do a double take when two school cooks called Sarah turned up to make their lunches.But only one of them was supposed to be there.The other, better known as Swansea entertainer Kevin Johns, is playing Sarah the cook in Dick Whittington, this year's pantomime at Swansea Grand Theatre.
Kev spent time with years three and four learning about dental hygiene as well as meeting up with real cook Sarah Robinson.
School head teacher Alison Williams said: "He was fantastic. He's a very good friend to the school, and whenever he comes he's always in different attire."It was lovely to see him here with our cook.
They are both Sarahs, they are both school cooks, and both are important members of the school community.
"The children will definitely be going to see the panto."
I can't wait to see them all there!
The first school that I went to was very small with no more than about 60 children, very different to Blaen Baglan where there must have been well over 300 in the school hall.
Below is a lovely piece from tonight's edition of the Evening Post about last week's visit the Penyrheol Primary.
Pupils at Penyrheol Primary School had to do a double take when two school cooks called Sarah turned up to make their lunches.But only one of them was supposed to be there.The other, better known as Swansea entertainer Kevin Johns, is playing Sarah the cook in Dick Whittington, this year's pantomime at Swansea Grand Theatre.
Kev spent time with years three and four learning about dental hygiene as well as meeting up with real cook Sarah Robinson.
School head teacher Alison Williams said: "He was fantastic. He's a very good friend to the school, and whenever he comes he's always in different attire."It was lovely to see him here with our cook.
They are both Sarahs, they are both school cooks, and both are important members of the school community.
"The children will definitely be going to see the panto."
I can't wait to see them all there!
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Sara the Cook is on the road.
Day 3 today of the Panto Schools Tour took me to another five schools in Swansea including St Josephs Primary where after the Panto show I was treated to a great performence of The Circle of Life which they are rehearsing for their school concert.
So far I'm been taken to 15 schools by the Grand Theatre Marketing Team in a fantastic old Daimler car.
I take a break tomorrow to go and talk to some performing arts students at Gorseinon College but will be back in Swansea schools on Friday, whilst on Monday Sarah the Cook goes to Llanelli and then Neath/Port Talbot schools on Tuesday.
The response has been fantastic and I have enjoyed this year's school's tour more than ever.
Its great that the children remember previous panto productions at the Grand and I'm amazed that so many of them are panto goers.
Altogether Sara the Cook (thats me of course) performed to about 1600 children today!
Its very important to get children to come to panto as its' so often their first experience of theatre .... if they enjoy panto then they'll come and see other shows.
It was great to bump into some old Wales' Theatre Company friends at the Grand today including Ieuan Rhys who will be playing King Crumble in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Riverfront in Newport this Christmas.
So far I'm been taken to 15 schools by the Grand Theatre Marketing Team in a fantastic old Daimler car.
I take a break tomorrow to go and talk to some performing arts students at Gorseinon College but will be back in Swansea schools on Friday, whilst on Monday Sarah the Cook goes to Llanelli and then Neath/Port Talbot schools on Tuesday.
The response has been fantastic and I have enjoyed this year's school's tour more than ever.
Its great that the children remember previous panto productions at the Grand and I'm amazed that so many of them are panto goers.
Altogether Sara the Cook (thats me of course) performed to about 1600 children today!
Its very important to get children to come to panto as its' so often their first experience of theatre .... if they enjoy panto then they'll come and see other shows.
It was great to bump into some old Wales' Theatre Company friends at the Grand today including Ieuan Rhys who will be playing King Crumble in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Riverfront in Newport this Christmas.
Sunday, 7 October 2007
Big Panto Star
I'm delighted that Les Dennis one of Pantomime's all time great comics will be joining me on my radio show on Swansea Sound tomorrow morning.
Les came to Swansea to appear in Mother Goose with Christopher Biggens in 1986/87 and is back in the city to appear in the Wales Theatre Company production of A Servant of two Masters.
It doesn't seem like a year since I was rehearsing for the Wales Theatre Company's last Autumn Season Production Amazing Grace.
Wales' Theatre Comapany's Artistic Director Michael Bogdanov is a wonderful director and this is a very funny play which is sure to be a big hit!
After the tour with WTC Les will be co-starring with Mickey Rooney in Cinderella at the Sunderland Empire.
I'll be starting the Panto School's Tour tomorrow and over the next 7 school days will visit around 30 schools in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot.
As I'm playing Sarah the Cook I've put together a short comedy cooking routine with a Dove Pan which had a real surprise finish.
I'm pleased that we're also linking up with the Road Safety Team at Swansea Council to leave a message with the children which will help keep them safe on the roads as well as telling all about Dick Whittington at the Swansea Grand Theatre.
Sometime this week we'll be unveiling the new Admiral Innsurance Dress that I'll be wearing in this year's show.
The dress has been designed and made by Tina Williams and looks fantastic.
Les came to Swansea to appear in Mother Goose with Christopher Biggens in 1986/87 and is back in the city to appear in the Wales Theatre Company production of A Servant of two Masters.
It doesn't seem like a year since I was rehearsing for the Wales Theatre Company's last Autumn Season Production Amazing Grace.
Wales' Theatre Comapany's Artistic Director Michael Bogdanov is a wonderful director and this is a very funny play which is sure to be a big hit!
After the tour with WTC Les will be co-starring with Mickey Rooney in Cinderella at the Sunderland Empire.
I'll be starting the Panto School's Tour tomorrow and over the next 7 school days will visit around 30 schools in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot.
As I'm playing Sarah the Cook I've put together a short comedy cooking routine with a Dove Pan which had a real surprise finish.
I'm pleased that we're also linking up with the Road Safety Team at Swansea Council to leave a message with the children which will help keep them safe on the roads as well as telling all about Dick Whittington at the Swansea Grand Theatre.
Sometime this week we'll be unveiling the new Admiral Innsurance Dress that I'll be wearing in this year's show.
The dress has been designed and made by Tina Williams and looks fantastic.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Great Young Talent
I'm currently hosting the annual City and County of Swansea Talent Show at Theatre Penyrheol in Gorseinon.
The competiton has been running for several years and lists Catherine Zeta Jones and Ria Jones amongst previous winners.
I can also remember announcing Eurovision star Jessica Garlick as a winner.
The show has been hosted by a number of local venues.
I first hosted the event at the wonderful Patti Pavillion Theatre before the show went to The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea Waterfront.
Then we found a new home at Theatre Penyrheol and has moved from bdeing a summer show to being part of the Theatre's Autumn Season.
The Theatre manager Emma and her assistant Kia have done a great job in keeping the event alive, helping the search for new Welsh Talent.
Whilst not every talent show winner opts for a career in entertainment, many have, and are doing very well.
In fact two young girls who won the competition in the past will be with us at the Grand for Panto later this year.
Hayley Gallivan will be playing Alice and Nia Jermin is also in the company.
I remember both girls as being all round entertainers!
They are great singers and dancers and I'm delighted to be working with them at the Grand this year.
However, Hayley is not the first Gallivan to start in a Grand Panto.
Last year Hayley's brother Craig played the title role in Aladdin but that was not the first time that I appeared alongside a Gallivan at Christmas.
That happened in 1970 when Craig and Hayley's dad and I were soloists in the Plasmarl Primary School Christmas Concert - Tony was a good boy sopranno!
Another former winner of the Talent Show Rebecca Oglesby played Goldilocks at the Grand in 2002/3 so I shall be watching closely for future Panto stars.
The competiton has been running for several years and lists Catherine Zeta Jones and Ria Jones amongst previous winners.
I can also remember announcing Eurovision star Jessica Garlick as a winner.
The show has been hosted by a number of local venues.
I first hosted the event at the wonderful Patti Pavillion Theatre before the show went to The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea Waterfront.
Then we found a new home at Theatre Penyrheol and has moved from bdeing a summer show to being part of the Theatre's Autumn Season.
The Theatre manager Emma and her assistant Kia have done a great job in keeping the event alive, helping the search for new Welsh Talent.
Whilst not every talent show winner opts for a career in entertainment, many have, and are doing very well.
In fact two young girls who won the competition in the past will be with us at the Grand for Panto later this year.
Hayley Gallivan will be playing Alice and Nia Jermin is also in the company.
I remember both girls as being all round entertainers!
They are great singers and dancers and I'm delighted to be working with them at the Grand this year.
However, Hayley is not the first Gallivan to start in a Grand Panto.
Last year Hayley's brother Craig played the title role in Aladdin but that was not the first time that I appeared alongside a Gallivan at Christmas.
That happened in 1970 when Craig and Hayley's dad and I were soloists in the Plasmarl Primary School Christmas Concert - Tony was a good boy sopranno!
Another former winner of the Talent Show Rebecca Oglesby played Goldilocks at the Grand in 2002/3 so I shall be watching closely for future Panto stars.
Friday, 5 October 2007
Now we are really getting busy.
On reflection I started the diary a little too early!
However, I was all enthusiastic, so what the heck!
Anyway there's going to be plenty to talk about over the coming weeks so I shall get on with it!
The press lauch went really well a couple of weeks ago and it was great to meet up with Hannah and Rik again and to meet Anne Charleston and Ray (although Ray and I talked more about sport than Panto)
I'll posting some pictures from the Press launch on http://www.kevinjohns.net/ over the weekend.
On Monday I start this year's Panto Schools tour.
I really look forward to the tour every year! Its quite tiring as we get to around 5 schools a day but its' great fun and I enjoy the 'geeting there'as much as I enjoy the actual performence.
This year I've come up with a comedy cooking routine which will finish with the production of a cuddley toy Labrador which one of the youngsters in each school will get to keep!
In the past I've been chaufferred around in a limo but this year I'll be travelling around in a classic car - wait for the pictures.
Our first school on Monday morning will be Trallwn Primary School in Swansea and I'm told that in one school I'll be meeting a real Sarah the Cook.
Sarah the Cook meets Sarah the Cook!
However, I was all enthusiastic, so what the heck!
Anyway there's going to be plenty to talk about over the coming weeks so I shall get on with it!
The press lauch went really well a couple of weeks ago and it was great to meet up with Hannah and Rik again and to meet Anne Charleston and Ray (although Ray and I talked more about sport than Panto)
I'll posting some pictures from the Press launch on http://www.kevinjohns.net/ over the weekend.
On Monday I start this year's Panto Schools tour.
I really look forward to the tour every year! Its quite tiring as we get to around 5 schools a day but its' great fun and I enjoy the 'geeting there'as much as I enjoy the actual performence.
This year I've come up with a comedy cooking routine which will finish with the production of a cuddley toy Labrador which one of the youngsters in each school will get to keep!
In the past I've been chaufferred around in a limo but this year I'll be travelling around in a classic car - wait for the pictures.
Our first school on Monday morning will be Trallwn Primary School in Swansea and I'm told that in one school I'll be meeting a real Sarah the Cook.
Sarah the Cook meets Sarah the Cook!
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Smile
We took another step closer to Panto 2007/08 this week as I made my annual trek to a London Photo Studio for the Panto Poster Photo session.
This is my first Panto for UK Productions, so I had to find a studio that I had never previously visited.
The photo is the purpose of the visit but its also a chance to see some old friends, make new ones and meet some of those who will share the rehearsal room and panto stage in a few months, and some who you may work with future years.
The first person I bumped into was the lovely Hannah Waterman who play Dick Whittington with us in Swansea and my old friend John, husband of Ruth Madoc.
Sharing an impromptu dressing room was fellow Dame Andrew Ryan who has played The Grand many times.
It was really good to meet Rik Gaynor who plays Idle Jack and directs the show!
Rik is a great comedy and Panto performer and I’m really looking forward to working with him.
Then in for the photo, I go as Ruth comes out.
Ruth was very kind to me when we worked together on Robin Hood and we could write a book on some of the fun things that happened during that run!
Don't forget that Dick Whittington opens at The Grand Theatre Swansea on December 19th.
Check out the Grand Theatre Website or call 01792 475 715.
This is my first Panto for UK Productions, so I had to find a studio that I had never previously visited.
The photo is the purpose of the visit but its also a chance to see some old friends, make new ones and meet some of those who will share the rehearsal room and panto stage in a few months, and some who you may work with future years.
The first person I bumped into was the lovely Hannah Waterman who play Dick Whittington with us in Swansea and my old friend John, husband of Ruth Madoc.
Sharing an impromptu dressing room was fellow Dame Andrew Ryan who has played The Grand many times.
It was really good to meet Rik Gaynor who plays Idle Jack and directs the show!
Rik is a great comedy and Panto performer and I’m really looking forward to working with him.
Then in for the photo, I go as Ruth comes out.
Ruth was very kind to me when we worked together on Robin Hood and we could write a book on some of the fun things that happened during that run!
Don't forget that Dick Whittington opens at The Grand Theatre Swansea on December 19th.
Check out the Grand Theatre Website or call 01792 475 715.
Memory Lane
I've enjoyed a real trip down Panto Memory Lane today looking through a feature on Swansea Pantomimes of years gone by on www.its-behind-you.com.
Although I can't remember personally, I'm told I'm told that the first panto that I went to was Puss In Boots in 1966 which starred Jess Conrad.Now I've played charity football with Jess on a number of occasions, he's a great guy and an excellent goalkeeper!
I do remember seeing Wayne Fontana in Jack and The Beanstalk and Stan Stennet in Robinson Crusoe in 1970.
Stan is really a Welsh King of Panto and still has great enthusiasm for Panto!
Anyone who performs at the Grand can't escape the theatre's great Panto tradition as there are old panto posters along the dressing room corridors.
I think that the three that I remember the most are as follows:
1 Babes in the Woods with Ryan and Glyn Houston
2 Clive Dunn in Cinderella. Little did I know when I watched that Panto that I would share a dressing room with this great star just 10 years later when we filmed a Christmas edition of Highway at HTV in Cardiff.
3 Finally Anne Aston, Freddie Lees, Ivor Emmanuel and Kenny Smiles in Cinderella.
My first panto as a performer was for AMG at The Grand was Robin Hood (1996 -96)
I'd spent 4 seasons at The Porthcawl Pavillion (a great Panto Theatre) and was delighted to get a chance to play the Grand.
Two years later I was back for Aladdin with a great cast and have enjoyed some great seasons in the years that have followed.I understand that tickets are going well for this year’s panto which opens on Dec 19th.
Tickets are available from the Grand Box Office on 01792 475 715.
Although I can't remember personally, I'm told I'm told that the first panto that I went to was Puss In Boots in 1966 which starred Jess Conrad.Now I've played charity football with Jess on a number of occasions, he's a great guy and an excellent goalkeeper!
I do remember seeing Wayne Fontana in Jack and The Beanstalk and Stan Stennet in Robinson Crusoe in 1970.
Stan is really a Welsh King of Panto and still has great enthusiasm for Panto!
Anyone who performs at the Grand can't escape the theatre's great Panto tradition as there are old panto posters along the dressing room corridors.
I think that the three that I remember the most are as follows:
1 Babes in the Woods with Ryan and Glyn Houston
2 Clive Dunn in Cinderella. Little did I know when I watched that Panto that I would share a dressing room with this great star just 10 years later when we filmed a Christmas edition of Highway at HTV in Cardiff.
3 Finally Anne Aston, Freddie Lees, Ivor Emmanuel and Kenny Smiles in Cinderella.
My first panto as a performer was for AMG at The Grand was Robin Hood (1996 -96)
I'd spent 4 seasons at The Porthcawl Pavillion (a great Panto Theatre) and was delighted to get a chance to play the Grand.
Two years later I was back for Aladdin with a great cast and have enjoyed some great seasons in the years that have followed.I understand that tickets are going well for this year’s panto which opens on Dec 19th.
Tickets are available from the Grand Box Office on 01792 475 715.
Thursday, 31 May 2007
A Bit Early I Know but ........
Here we are at the end of May and I go and start a Panto Blog!
Well even with six months to there's lots to talk about and hopefully by the time it really kicks off the blog will have picked up 1 or 2 readers.
I'm looking forward to this year's Panto season at the Grand Theatre in Swansea - Dick
Whttington.
Its a long time since I've been involved with Dick Whittington, almost 11 years in fact!
I played Idle Jack at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot with Opportunity Knocks
winners Rosser and Davies.
In fact my daughter Bethan who is on the Performing Arts course at Gorseinon stayed at a
College friend's house recently and the friend produced a video of the show - she was one of the
Panto Babes!
This year I'll be playing Sarah the Cook - my 8th as Dame and my my 16th Panto season in all.
The official cast announcement is yet to be made but according to the Panto website this year's
show has a great cast!
I'm waiting for the official launch!
However if I were you I'd check out www.its-behind-you.com and follow the diary link to UK Productions Pantomimes (Swansea)
Its' a real joy for me to star in a panto at the Grand as its' such a great theatre!
Like many I have memories of going to the Grand as a child and watching great Pantomimes.
For an aspiring comedy performer it was a joy to watch great Welsh Comics like Ryan Davies and Kenny Smiles.
Thank goodness that the Panto tradition is still alive!
So I'll report back as often as I can in the weeks ahead and we'll get a daily diary going as we get closer to the start of rehersals.
There'll be something to talk about next week for certain!
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