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.
Saturday 9 June 2007
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.
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