 |
|
|
|||
|
Interviews
|
|||
|
|
It's like a little family Simon Sladen talks to the cast of Aladdin at the Camberley Theatre Place Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Abanazar et al in Widow Twankey's washing machine, pour in some press and leave for sixty minutes. The result? A whirlwind of a panto launch party at the the Camberley Theatre, complete with fresh faced cast members, ready and enthusiastic for the season ahead. For the third year running Camberley favourite Mark Slowey returns to the venue as Dame, this year Widow Twankey, having played Sarah the Cook in 2009 and Dame Trott the year before. Slowey is just one of many actors who, like homing pigeons, return to a particular theatre to take up a Dame residency over the festive period. But what is so special about Camberley? "It's a nice crowd," says Slowey. "It's like a little family. It's a real treat to work with the same people again." 2010 will see Slowey appearing alongside fellow returnees Scott Burgess and Will Stokes in the roles of Abanazar and Wishee Washee respectively. "I'm very excited to be back here in Camberley. Everyone's lovely and it's a real family orientated place," says Stokes, whilst complimenting his fellow actor. "Mark [Slowey] inspires me. Two years ago he took me under his bosom and looked after me on my first panto." Actors often take on familial roles during the run, a fact Slowey wholeheartedly agrees with: "You become their mum really. The story becomes real life." Slowey hasn't always played Dame, though. In fact, before joining the Damehood he could be found playing some of Pantoland's greatest villains. "It's probably something to do with my audition song: 'Use What You Got' from The Life," he comments. "My first theatrical Dame was at Newbury Corn Exchange. The director there didn't like my accent as it was very harsh, 'Manchestery', so I had to change it a little bit, but it helped me bring out my motherly side." Even when being bad, Slowey remarks that he was never "evil as such when playing Villain. There's still a bit of lovableness in there; you love to hate them." Burgess agrees, "Playing the Villain you've got to be scary, but lovably scary. The audience have to love to hate you," he concludes. It's Burgess' second year as Villain, but he's also a man of many roles. A few years back he played Widow Twankey alongside his pregnant wife in the title role. "I used to say 'Oh look, it's Aladdin and his magic lump'", he laughs. "Doing Villain for the first time was difficult," Burgess explains, "as I didn't know where the comedy was in the role. It's quite lonely being a Villain, but it is quite fun. You're on when everyone else it off, but this year I'm much more involved as Aladdin's long- lost uncle." Alongside the returning performers, more links can be found within the cast as the Emperor of China, Matt Milburn of Hollyoaks fame, explains. "I worked with Scott [Burgess] on the first panto I ever did in Sittingbourne. I was Dick Whittington and he was the Alderman. He mentioned there was a role available in Camberley, I tried out for it and here I am." At 27, Milburn must be the youngest Emperor in the business. "I'm
glad you picked up on that," he jokes. "That's exactly what
I was thinking." Playing Emperor will be a new experience for Milburn. "It requires a totally different approach," he says. "I'm looking forward to it, to be honest. But, for me, to play Villain is probably the most enjoyable part from an acting point of view. I've played the Villain once before in Crewe with Beauty and the Beast and you still get that audience participation from the booing and the like. I love it." For the past couple of years The Camberley Theatre has had Hollyoaks stars in their cast, and alongside Milburn, Hollyoaks' Josh Ashworth, aka Sonny Flood, will appear as Aladdin. I ask Flood what makes Aladdin such a great pantomime, and after a somewhat embarrassed pause, he replies: "Well, to be honest, I've only ever been in one at school and only ever seen one at school, other than that I've never been to a panto." Intrigued to find out more about this one and only pantomime Flood was involved with at school, I listen as he elaborates. "It was Puss in Boots and I played a talking donkey, a sort of side-kick role. It was before Shrek, so we set the precedent," he says proudly. I ask him why, having not experienced too many a pantomime, he's decided to do it this season in Camberley? "Firstly, pantomime is important," he says seriously. "It's good to have a laugh sometimes. You need the lighter stuff in life" and in the current economic climate he couldn't be more right. "Pantomime is something you should learn about," he continues. "Everyone should experience it." Playing Aladdin's love interest Princess Jasmine is Helen Kurup, who admits to being "out of the loop with Hollyoaks." She also notes that auditioning for Jasmine wasn't half as scary as her first ever audition, when as a child she sought to become one of the Babes chorus. "There must have been about 90 children on the stage," she explains, "all dancing away. And then we got lined up into lines of eight and eight and then she, the choreographer, said 'Thank you girls, I'd like you to join our panto.' It was amazing and probably one of the most happiest moments in my life." Equally excited about her role is Kate Millest as Slave of the Ring. She's especially looking forward to performing in one venue over the entire run, having experienced a "hard-core" panto season last year. Touring the country as a female Dame Sarah the Cook, she performed at a variety of venues, whilst also being responsible for the show's lighting. "The amount of times I burnt myself is unbelievable," she recalls. "It was really good in terms of stamina and made me a better performer. They say you learn to drive when you've passed your test and that's so true." Stamina is one thing performers definitely need over the panto season if they are to survive the run, but are there any other tricks of the trade to help keep actors fit and healthy for the duration? "Vocal exercises are important - you've got two, three shows a day and honey and lemon's always good," advises Slowey. "Oh and not too many late nights!" he quickly adds, chuckling. Are there any tips Slowey would give to those thinking about entering the Damehood? "You've always got to remember it's a family show and that you're working with children. Play the motherly side, but bring out a bit of sauce." I ask the actors whether such a thing as a perfect panto cast exists? They're not sure, but have a go at casting their own imaginary pantomime. "I'd definitely have Colin Firth as the love interest," says Millest in dreamy fashion. "Then Robin Williams would play every other character." Williams crops up yet again in Flood's dream show: "He'd be the candlestick and I'd be the clock in Beauty and the Beast." With a twinkle in his eye, Stokes admits that he would like to work alongside Pamela Anderson, who will reprise her Genie in Liverpool this year. "She's up there", he says. "Why not!" For Kurup, the perfect pantomime diva would have to be Mariah Carey playing, surprisingly, a comedy role and it is interesting to note that nearly all of these casting decisions involve American stars, a trend that's been gathering pace since 2005. But it's back to the old school panto crew for Slowey, who would love to work with Bruce Forsyth and, if he were still alive, the late John Inman due to their ability to "engage with the audience effortlessly." The audience is what pantomime is all about; not passive, but a vital part of the show. "If they're laughing, you know you're doing a good job," says Stokes. However, it is important that the audience and your fellow cast members are laughing at the right things and for the right reasons, and it seems some non-scripted tomfoolery may be on the cards in Camberley. "Me and Scott [Burgess], knowing it's Sonny [Flood]'s first time, we're going to stitch him up wherever possible," Milburn plots. But plotters beware, the Emperor may have Abanazar on his side, but Aladdin has a magic lamp and informs me that he has some tricks of his own up his sleeve... 'Aladdin' runs at The Camberley Theatre from 8th December 2010 - 2nd January 2011
|
||
|
|
