THE LADYKILLERS (UK Tour) Review January 2013

One of Britain's best loved pictures, The Ladykillers has made the move from screen to stage and the blackly comic West End show is now touring the country. This comedy classic was up for five Olivier awards and is currently nominated for Best New Comedy and Best Set at the 2013 WhatsOnStage Awards.

Will Troughton and Michele Dotrice

With all these credentials behind it and Graham Linehan (Father Ted/The IT Crowd) at the helm, expectations are high but are completely met. The front cloth rises on the most spectacular set. Michael Taylor has created an entire lopsided house with every detail imaginable. Inside we find Mrs Wilberforce (Michele Dotrice) who with an empty room to spare acquires a lodger, Professor Marcus (Paul Brown) who soon invites his friends to stay. Unbeknownst to the unsuspecting old lady, Professor Marcus and his friends (who she believes are a string quartet) are in fact a criminal gang using the room to plot a heist at Kings Cross station.

Chris McCalphy and Shaun Williamson (Previous Cast)

The gang rehearse their plan in Mrs Wilberforce's home but the heist itself is played out humorously and very cleverly by remote control cars and trains that zoom across the stage and vertically up the front cloth.  

Joining Paul Brown's Professor Marcus in the farcical gang are Clive Mantle (The Vicar of Dibley) as Major Courtney, Chris McCalphy as One-Round, William Troughton as Harry Robinson and Cliff Parisi (Eastenders/Call The Midwife) joins the cast for 2013, taking over from Shaun Williamson as Louis Harvey. 

Each member of the gang bring a different element of hilarity and ridiculousness. Most notably William Troughton's constant slapstick habit of being hit by the spinning chalkboard. Chris McCalphy's One-Round is most loveable, child-like and clueless as he makes obviousness of the robbery on multiple occasions. Clive Mantle provides pure entertainment in revealing a surprising twist to his character. Cliff Parisi makes an excellent Romanian thug whilst Paul Brown expertly captures the insanity of crazed maniac Marcus. Marcus Taylor completes the principal cast as Constable MacDonald and as a scene-steeling old lady with an ear-trumpet!

The show does however belong to Mrs Wilberforce. Michele Dotrice is such an endearing actress and all eyes are on her as she dodders around her home, banging on the pipes to make the tap produce water and holding conversations with her parrot General Gordon. 

We caught up with Michele backstage in Malvern where the show played it's final venue of 2012. You can read my interview with her here. And watch our video interview with her below. 

As Michele mentions in the video, the coup de théâtre of The Ladykillers involves Mrs Wilberforce's friends coming round for tea and an impromptu concert from the criminal gang of masquerading musicians.  Four local ladies from each town along the tour are put through an audition process to win the chance of starring alongside Michele. You can read about Wolverhampton's audition day on the theatre's blog here. 

With William Troughton and Michele Dotrice

I find myself all too often saying "this show you HAVE to see" but the Midlands really is enjoying the best that theatre has to offer right now - The Ladykillers is no exception, a true comic masterpiece. The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is taken over by little old tea drinkers until Saturday 2nd February and you can book tickets online here or by calling the box office on 01902 42 92 12. 

CATS (UK Tour) Interview with Ben Kennedy

Based on T.S Elliot's 'Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats', Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical Cats is about to embark on a UK tour. Premiering at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 9th February the tour plays it's first English venue in Wolverhampton at the Grand Theatre for two weeks beginning 19th March.

With an impressive back-catalogue that includes Hairspray, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Love Never Dies, The Wizard of Oz and most recently the UK Tour of Wonderful Town and the Wyvern Theatre's pantomime Aladdin, Assistant Musical Director Ben Kennedy is excited to be bringing Cats back to the Midlands where he grew up.

"I lived in Codsall all of my life so I've been to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on many occasions - from an audience member watching shows during my teenage years and more recently as a pit musician working on the touring shows which I started doing in 2007. I'm delighted that Cats is coming to the Grand for two weeks and I'm sure that Wolverhampton audiences will be delighted with the show!"

Cats ran for exactly 21 years in the West End between 11th May 1981 and 11th May 2002 and is currently back in London for the rehearsal process of a brand new tour.

Rehearsing Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat.

(Photographs by kind permission of Joanna Ampil.)

"Rehearsals are going very well at the moment, we currently have only one week left in London before we move up to Edinburgh for tech week and dress rehearsals at the Playhouse Theatre. A typical day in the rehearsal room starts with a thorough physical warm-up so that all of our company are totally prepared to work on the show, which is one of the most physically demanding shows in the musical theatre genre. We then do a vocal warm-up (as the show is also a demanding sing!), before starting work on the show itself.

We spent the initial part of the rehearsal period working on different sections of the show and putting all of the choreography together and learning all of the music. We are now at the stage of running the whole show - which is such an exciting part of the process!"

Cats has not only broken long-run records in the West End (21 years) and on Broadway (18 years) but has seen productions across the world including Madrid, Zurich, Sydney, Warsaw, São Paulo and Budapest to name but a few. The show has been translated into 10 different languages including Japanese however the show's title has rarely been changed. The Mexican people voted unanimously in favour of keeping 'Cats' as opposed to translating to 'Gatos'. The show has not only been presented in theatres but in tents in Japan and Korea as well as an engine shed in Switzerland. Perhaps the most recognisable version of the show however is the film version recorded at the Adelphi Theatre and released in 1998 starring Elaine Page and John Partridge. Fans should be pleased to discover the 2013 UK tour stays loyal to the much-loved favourite. 

"This is very much the Cats everyone knows so well. Chrissie Cartwright is directing and choreographing the production, bringing Gillian Lynne's brilliant original choreography to the stage once again. We were very lucky to have Gillian visit us in rehearsals this week, which was inspirational to all of us."

Cameron Ball rehearsing as Macavity. 

"Cats is such an exciting score to play. Firstly, as there are no dialogue scenes we are playing throughout the entire show, so we are kept very busy indeed. Secondly, Andrew Lloyd Webber has incorporated such a great variety of musical styles into the score that each section has it's own challenges. The result is a gripping piece of musical theatre, and demands a high level of continued concentration throughout. A good amount of the music in the show accompanies detailed choreography so we have to be totally focussed in order to give the company the perfect tempi, musicality and phrasing at all times. As Assistant Musical Director I get not only the pleasure of playing the beautiful score but also conducting one or two performances each week - which I'm looking forward to immensely!" 

Dance rehearsals require extreme precision. 

Cats has featured many well-known and much loved theatre stars in it's time including Elaine Page, Wayne Sleep, Bonnie Langford, Paul Nicholas, Brian Blessed, Sarah Brightman, John Partridge and Louie Spence. This brand new tour also has it's share of stars as musical theatre favourite Joanna Ampil leads as Grizabella. Joining Joanna is Les Misérables' Oliver Savile as Rum Tum Tugger, Nicholas Pound as Old Deuteronomy, Joseph Poulton as Mr Mistoffelees, Cameron Ball as Macavity and Katy Warsop as Rumpleteazer. 

You can book tickets to re-live the memory of Cats at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 19th - 30th March online here.

Farewell JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) 2012 - 2013

Once upon a time, back in June 2012 Qdos Pantomimes launched Jack And The Beanstalk at the Novotel, Wolverhampton to be this year's 'Giant Pantomime Spectacular' at the Grand Theatre. There was a feast fit for a giant and beanstalks growing out of each table! Astoundingly at this point in the year and with only Sherrie Hewson, Keith Harris and Orville just announced, over 14,000 tickets had already been sold.

With the theatre's online social media presence as ever-growing as the Beanstalk, Facebook and Twitter hosted the announcement for another three panto stars in July. Niki Evans as Fairy Fortune, Ken Morley as King Crumble and pantomime legend Nigel Ellacott as Dame Trot. In September Nigel hosted a pantomime Race Night where pantomime horses raced around the track at the Wolverhampton Racecourse. As with the initial launch, a delicious three course meal followed! Earlier that day Nigel went to meet Tallulah the Tapir at Dudley Zoo, a friend who he has remained close to throughout the run of the show. Orville also visited the zoo with Keith to be one of the first to try out the new chair-lift. A firm favourite at the zoo, Orville was guest of honour to open their brand new offices earlier in January. 

With many of the stars announced there was rising anticipation on who would be cast as this year's hero Jack. In October it was announced that West End star Ben James-Ellis would be the heartthrob hero and we met up with him at the theatre for his press day. Straight from the stage in the touring production of Dreamboats and Petticoats Ben said that that he loves panto and couldn't wait to start. "It's so festive and you become part of a really close family." You can read my full interview with Ben here. 

Ken Morley got his press launch in November at Bantock House with the newly announced princess, Laine Theatre Arts graduate Sophie Brooke-Ford. There were jokes aplenty and a hilarious insight into Ken's Tipton origins!

The Grand Theatre also hosted Nigel Ellacott's Panto Roadshow teaching schools across the borough about the traditions of pantomime with Birmingham's pantomime dame Andrew Ryan. More about that can be read here. 

Turning on Wolverhampton's Christmas lights this year was leading-lady Sherrie Hewson. She was joined by the Mayoress of Wolverhampton and even Spongebob Squarepants. The event was a huge success and soon afterwards Sherrie went back to London to join the rest of the cast at the rehearsal studios. 

Completing the cast, the dancers were announced as Frankie Armitage, Lucian Collier, Oliver Dale, Sian Harriman, Matthew Hartley, Angela Sheppard, Bryony Thompson and Robert Tregoning.  The full rehearsal process can be read at Nigel Ellacott's Dame's Diary. 

The Wolverhampton Art Gallery made a giant beanstalk that was carried across town and into the theatre to be installed in the stalls foyer and wound around a post that stretched all the way up to the Grand Circle bar! The video of it's journey can be viewed here. 

For Panto Day (5th December) I joined the cast in their tech-rehearsal at the theatre. This was their first day of tech-ing the panto after two days of get-in. As to be expected we had costume malfunctions, missed song cues, entrances from the wrong side but that's what rehearsals are for! All was fine on the opening night and Press Night (11th December) was a huge success. 

Sherrie Hewson and Ken Morely visited the Express And Star newspaper offices and her video interview for the paper is filmed here. Christmas audiences were full of cheer and many of the cast travelled hundreds of miles after the show on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas day with their families. Their Christmas messages, including Orville's concern about what was being served up for dinner can be heard here. 

There were sign language interpreted performances by Sean Fitzsimmons on 9th, 10th and 12th January as well as audio described performances by Anne Hornsby. Always at the forefront of access for people of all abilities the Grand Theatre also held 'Touch Tours' and 'The Sound Of Panto' where deaf and visually impaired audiences got the chance to feel the vibrations made by the instruments, feel the fabrics of the costumes (as modelled by the dancers), meet Day-Zee the cow and get an insight into how the giant comes to life. More can be read here at the Grand Backstage Blog.

There were competitions for schools throughout the panto season including the chance for two budding artists work to be turned into a Jack And The Beanstalk mural on the wall of the theatre. Kyram Stone, aged 11 from Hill Avenue Primary School and Zoe Woods, also 11 from St Dominic's High School for Girls. The winning school for growing the tallest beanstalk were St Paul's First School with a giant 165cm and they won a visit to the pantomime.

Panto Fairy Niki Evans celebrated her 40th Birthday this year whilst our hero Ben turned 24. Dancer Angela Sheppard also enjoyed a Birthday in pantoland.

On the penultimate day of shows, Saturday 19th January, dancer Sian Harriman understudied the part of Fairy Fortune in the absence of Niki Evans.

Sian Harriman as Fairy Fortune

This year the pantomime has had it's very own website and reviews have been added to the virtual beanstalk in their hundreds! Now we've reached the top and the castle has opened it's drawbridge and a very special prize is at the top! Click here to find out now: http://grandtheatrepanto.co.uk

Dancer Angela Sheppard reflects on her time in Wolverhampton: "It's been pretty hard work! Our day starts at 1:10pm to prep for the show... warm-up, make-up, hair. The dressing room has been our second home with a fridge and a kettle and it's a great social meeting point between shows. The cast are great and very easy to get along with, we have particular banter with Ken!! We have a very playful cast who are always playing jokes. My favourite part of the show is the beanstalk growing - I think it looks very real! My favourite part of the whole run though has to be having a fire alarm evacuation during the second half of the show and seeing two Teletubbies, a dame, Medieval villagers and fairy outside in the street! It was very amusing. I will be sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful theatre and such friendly staff."

Angela Sheppard and the cast outside in the rain during the evacuation.

Dancer, Matthew Hartley: "Wolverhampton, it's been a pleasure!"

Dancer, Frankie Armitage: "Thank-you to everyone at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, I've had such an amazing experience working there, such lovely people and a fantastic theatre!"

Dancer, Sian Harriman: "I've had the most amazing time in Pantoland. I've met some amazing people and will miss you all!"

Princess Apricot, Sophie Brooke-Ford: "Had the best time at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. I'm going to miss being a princess and all the wonderful people I've got to work with every day!"

Jack, Ben James-Ellis: "Thank-you to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and all the staff for making it a lovely home for the past 8 weeks! Such a friendly and warm place to work! Great to be part of such an amazing production! x"

Dame Trot, Nigel Ellacott: "Thank-you Grand Theatre and to all who look after you, it's been a fab season!"

Lady Temple-Savage, Sherrie Hewson: "Thank-you to the beautiful Wolverhampton Grand Theatre for a great panto season! Audiences were fantastic and everyone who works there are amazing, and what a wonderful cast too!"

So that's it! It's very sad to say goodbye to what has been without a doubt the most fun Wolverhampton has had at Christmas but we can look forward to Saturday 7th December 2013 where Joe Pasquale brings Sleeping Beauty to town! Tickets are already on sale and you can book here: http://www.grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=683&sC=page10

Photos courtesy of The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Nigel Ellacott, Express and Star, Scott Bird and Qdos. 

WAR HORSE (UK Tour) Birmingham Hippodrome Press Launch and Interview with Toby Olié

Today tickets for the National Theatre's acclaimed production of War Horse went on sale for the show's run at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 16th October - 9th November 2013.

Chris Harper with Joey outside the Birmingham Hippodrome

Introducing War Horse was National Theatre producer Chris Harper. "As someone who was born in Stourbridge and started my career at the Birmingham Hippodrome, I am particularly excited to bring War Horse home."

War Horse is the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse Joey who has been requisitioned to fight for the English at war. Joey finds himself serving on both sides during the war and ends up in No-Man's Land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. The production which premiered at the Royal National Theatre in 2007 transferred to the New London Theatre in 2009 and has since played to audiences on Broadway, in Toronto and Melbourne and is now set to tour the UK whilst continuing to play to packed houses in London.

Toby Olié explaining the workings of horse Joey

Introducing us to the horse Joey was Associate Puppetry Director Toby Olié. A self confessed puppet enthusiast, Toby has been keen since the age of six, inspired by Sesame Street and a love for both drama and art. Toby trained in puppetry at London's Central School of Speech and Drama in which he was the only student in his year to study the discipline. Toby joined the original cast of War Horse as Joey's hind legs before operating Joey's head in the subsequent West End transfer of the production. He became an Associate Puppetry Director for the show in 2011. 

The puppets were designed and made in South Africa by the Handspring Puppet Company. Toby explained that the main body of the horse is cane that has been soaked giving it the flexibility to be shaped. The aim of the puppet is to be completely naturalistic yet suggestive of something more deconstructed. These are puppets and War Horse makes no attempt to hide that, but what they do ensure is that you see a completely believable representation of a horse. You can see just how realistically Joey moves in the video below. 

Speaking to Toby, he was able to give a fascinating insight from someone who has been with the production since the beginning. I was particularly interested to find out more about the puppets themselves, and the processes actors have to go through in order to bring the horses to life. 

"To warm up we find that Pilates and yoga based exercises are much more effective than simply working-out in a gym. For the operators it's much better to be relaxed than pumped and aching, otherwise the energy just isn't there. Before I first started with the company I didn't for one minute think I'd get the job because I was skinny and not a muscular guy. It's a lot more about concentration though, and being able to channel a horse's instincts. We tell the puppeteers not to focus too much on the script but to think as a horse and react to what's happening around them. We work closely with real horses and at a riding school in Epsom to ensure that we are extremely familiar with the horse's movement and behaviour."

Last year I was the puppeteer for a production of Little Shop of Horrors and after a two-hour show inside a giant plant I was completely exhausted. I was keen to know whether I'm just unfit, or if War Horse puppeteers felt the same. 

"It is completely exhausting.  As a puppeteer, not only are you operating the horse but making all of the noises too! We are trotting, running and neighing for the entire show and aside from the interval we only have two five minute breaks offstage. The operating is all encompassing and at times we have actors sitting on top of the horse riding it. None of the weight is ever put onto the legs of the puppet and at all times pressure is taken through the bodies of the puppeteers."

"The puppets are a Westernised inspiration of Japanese Bunraku puppetry and are always evolving and as great as they are, there are always things to improve. I lost a hoof in the middle of a scene once - they're a lot more secure now! The first prototype puppets lasted for just one week of workshops. They were much bulkier and needed a lot of improving, although the look has remained pretty similar. It takes us about ten months to make a completely new set of puppets and repairs are made as and when necessary."

The original designs for Joey

After taking part in a puppet workshop for Avenue Q last year I learnt that old and part-worn puppets that are no longer practical in the production are recycled for use during the rehearsal process and are not wasted. I wanted to know if this was the same for the horses.

"The puppeteers get used to working with the same puppets and so we tend to repair.  We like to use a new set of puppets for each company and those puppets stay with them. The London production are still using puppets from 2007, we've built an entirely new set for the upcoming tour, so come along and see them in action."

Tickets for War Horse at the Birmingham Hippodrome are now on sale via the website: http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/whatson_focus.asp?showid=1769

You can also visit the official website for the production here:

http://www.warhorseonstage.com

ROBINSON CRUSOE (Birmingham Hippodrome) Review December 2012

Britain's biggest pantomime sails into Birmingham and it truly is swashbuckling fun and hilarity... with the Conley slant on things, of course.

Right from the off it's clear that this is the pantomime of the 21st Century, combining panto traditions with the latest exciting technology. In flies a video screen and a message from the main man himself - Brian Conley has everyone in hysterics before the show has even properly begun.

A ship sails onto the stage and is magnificent in size and detail, Ian Westbrook's design for the whole production is breathtaking. The sets are lavish and are a far cry from the days of the painted backcloth. 

Joining Brian as the beautiful Polly is local girl Kathryn Rooney, re-uniting the duo that played Buttons and Cinderella in last year's Hippodrome pantomime, and there's more than the odd reference to that! They make a wonderful team and work well to keep the audience enthused and entertained. The close of act one, without wanting to spoil too much is a moment of pure joy that echoes Brian Conley's days at the London Palladium as Caractacus Potts.

Mrs Crusoe is perhaps one of the lesser known pantomime dames, but Andrew Ryan ensures that she is one of your favourite. His facial expressions in particular are most hilarious. Andrew knows how to work an audience and can rock a dress better than a lot of women ever could. Just like Nigel Ellacott in Wolverhampton this year Andrew is a master of the multi-layer strip routine. Wolverhampton and Birmingham are blessed with the best dames in the business this year. James Patterson pictured with Andrew above is a great addition as Polly's father, the Major General. Gavin Woods makes a boo-able baddie. 

Swooping in from the flys on her enchanted shell is the Enchantress of the Ocean Lesley Joseph (Calendar Girls). Lesley acts as a narrator and regularly casts magic spells to further the story. One of the shows highlights is her song 'It's Me' that features a chorus of merpeople. It's a large cast and made up of ten dancers the ensemble are an experienced group who really shine in Lesley's number, literally. The ensemble are Simon Campbell, Stephanie Elstob, Rachel Ensor, Jamie Ray Hartshorne, James Hughes-Ward, Jane McMurtrie, Sergio Milella, Elliot Nixon, Soeli Parry and Kimmi Richards.

Earl R Perkins is the hunky islander Friday who together with Kathryn is involved in a scene in which a tree does his hair... yes that's right - Conley is rather random. There are puppets aplenty, of course greeted with the famous catchphrase. 

Another scene of particular hilarity involves Brian Conley, an apple and Kathryn Rooney's face. There really is humour for everyone of all ages and of all humour types; slapstick, witty, dry, random, ridiculous... it's got it all. 

Wait... we're not done yet! Not only does the pantomime have all of that, but what pantomime is as entertaining without a troupe of Cossack dancers!? The Mazeppa Cossacks are a surprise and thrilling addition to the show and of course it wouldn't be fair to not let Brian in on the fun. 

Audience participation in this show is unlike any other. The audience are filmed onto a large screen, Helen from Row D got up and danced Gangnam Style on stage, and there were plenty of opportunities for the children to be a part, especially in a rendition of I Am The Music Man which provides Brian the opportunity for some very funny ad-lib with the children.

There really is nothing left out of this pantomime, it has every old tradition and every new invention. This has to be the largest scale pantomime production you will see this year. Completely unmissable. The Birmingham Hippodrome is the only theatre to host a professional production of Robinson Crusoe this year and so it surely is the place to be!

Call the box office on 0844 338 5000 or book tickets online here: http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/WhatsOn_focus.asp?showId=1737

ALADDIN (Swindon Wyvern Theatre) Review December 2012

You may be forgiven for believing you're in Swindon but in fact you're taken far away to the Oriental town of Swinyon for this year's production of Aladdin. Fronted by TV funny-man Keith Chegwin this intimate theatre is filled with magic and a welcoming charm.

The star-crossed lovers are West End star of Hairspray and We Will Rock You Lauren Varnham as Princess Jasmine and Liam Ross-Mills as Aladdin. Having seen Lauren countless times in both of her recent West End appearances I knew she would be more than up to the job. She proves to be the perfect princess in appearance, character and her vocals are second to none. Equally as charming is Aladdin, Liam Ross-Mills makes a wonderful lead and his version of A Whole New World whilst floating around the stage on a magic carpet is one of the many highlights.

Keith Chegwin has bundles of energy and is excellent at enthusing the audience. He has great accuracy it seems as not only did he spray a water gun jet directly into my face, but threw my favourite Quality Street chocolate straight into my lap. It was the strawberry one...

David Ashley is the evil Abanazer and proved quite scary when he entered the auditorium next to a nursery school group. The musical theatre veteran showcased his skill honed during his time in Starlight Express and one scene involved him roller skating around the stage. A classic and perfected baddie! Nick Barclay is a pleasant contrast as the the bumbling Emperor.

Widow Twankey isn't the most glamorous of dames, she has a bra that was meant to hold three and  works in a laundry shop, bless her, but Ian Mowat particularly in the Born This Way routine proved that there is a diva within her who's outfits are some very colourful creations. 

The glitz and glamour comes in the shape of Suzie Chard who presents an Essex-girl Genie, who sparkles and shines her way through. Her charisma fills the stage and even during moments of uncertainty after an incident with a pyro she carried the scene through to the end smoothly. The cave scene is another show highlight that begins with a rendition of I Am What I Am with backing from the Laine Theatre Arts ensemble - Jabari Braham, Michael Lin, Thomas Russell, Seren Sandham-Davis and Zac Watts.

The musical arrangements by Ben Kennedy are a delight, there is a mix of chart and musical theatre. Direction and Choreography by Andrew Wright is to the highest standard as expected with recent work including Singing In The Rain (Palace Theatre) the UK tour of Wonderful Town and a revival of 42nd Street (Chicester Festive Theatre and the Curve, Leicester). Additional choreography for the show is provided by Aaron Renfree, also a Laine's graduate. Aaron's choreography is always fresh, exciting and current and it is great to see that in such tradition-bound pantomime theatre.

Aladdin runs at the Swindon Wyvern Theatre until Sunday 6th January 2013 and you can book tickets here: https://wyverntheatre.org.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=35166970-7B07-47FF-9EE1-5CFF13B5C8E9 or by calling the box office on 01793 524 481. 

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) Review December 2012

After what seemed like a lifetime, Jack And The Beanstalk has finally arrived in Wolverhampton. Qdos Pantomimes brings the magic of Cloudland, Benidorm's Solana Resort, Coronation Street and Bilston Market together in the most random collection of hilarity and fun.

Our lovestruck couple are West End star - Any Dream Will Do's Ben James-Ellis and Sophie Brooke-Ford. Both are on top of their game and give strong and entertaining performances. Full of energy Ben is the perfect strapping lad to lead the audience on a journey up the beanstalk and into Cloudland. Sophie Brooke-Ford's "To Make You Feel My Love" wouldn't have been out of place on a West End stage.

Coronation Street's Ken Morley is King Crumble and is reunited with on-screen partner from the Street Sherrie Hewson. In Benidorm character as Lady Joyce Temple Savage she is the perfect baddy and receives boos aplenty whenever she's seen. The opportunity to mention Corrie's famous waterbed scene just couldn't be left out!

Sherrie Hewson's glittering costumes were most exquisite and it is clear that every expense has been plunged into the show. Also dressed in glitz and glamour was the spirit of the beans - Fairy Fortune, Niki Evans. Niki who rose to fame on X Factor has been touring recently as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers and it is great to see her in a much more lighthearted role and with some upbeat songs to riff away - incredible vocals.

The babes were made up of children from the Classic Academy of Dance. The ensemble dancers are Frankie Armitage, Lucian Collier, Oliver Dale, Sian Harriman, Matthew Hartley, Angela Sheppard, Bryony Thompson and Robert Tregoning. The entire team execute perfection with the choreography and are exciting to watch. Alternately they bring Day-Zee the cow to life with a humorous hip-hop twist.

Nigel Ellacott is Jack's mother Dame Trot, and is clearly the experienced Dame. A lifetime in the business (s)he masters the quick change, the towering headdresses and those lame jokes that for some reason are always funny. Dame Trot's Bilston Market song to the tune of Copacabana brought the house down. 

Stealing the show however is a little green duck called Orville. Yes, Keith Harris, Orville and Cuddles from all those years ago prove that the old-time entertainment is indeed just as relevant and entertaining today. The children's favourite was clearly Orville who can sing other songs aside from "I Wish I Could Fly" surprisingly well. That isn't to say that Orville's famous song isn't included - it most definitely is and brought the house down, pleasing all but one particular monkey. Cuddles was far from impressed and an appearance in Act 2 ensured that the pantomime had something for all the family - definitely one for the parents! 

The set was far from normal and very impressive. There are lavish palaces, a quaint village and an entire house! Andrew Lynford's direction and Steven Harris' choreography come together well to keep the show flowing. The beanstalk and the giant are very impressive and it's nice to see both presented in a much more physical and creative way than the use of 3D - which seems to be the way a lot of pantomimes are moving towards. 

Packed with well-known song's of charts, stage and screen this is definitely a show you can sing along to. Wolverhampton never fails at Christmas to put on a fun family show and Jack And The Beanstalk is something that should definitely be part of your festive plans! If you haven't already done so, book those tickets now! Book online at http://grandtheatre.iristickets.co.uk/en/group/4758/jack-the-beanstalk-2012-13/

Visit the pantomime website at http://www.grandtheatrepanto.co.uk and once you've seen it make sure to 'leaf' a review here! http://grandtheatrepanto.co.uk/virtual-beanstalk-2 

You can also book for next year's pantomime SLEEPING BEAUTY starring Joe Pasquale here: http://grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=683&sC=page46

Production photos © Gavin Dickson Photography. 

PANTO DAY 2012: Jack And The Beanstalk (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre)

Today is Panto Day! Around the country hundreds of theatres have been keen on sharing the love for pantomime and in Wolverhampton we've had a very long but exciting day of tech rehearsals. I sat in on the afternoon session and kept a blog diary of events for the Grand Theatre's new backstage blog which you can read here: http://www.grandbackstageblog.co.uk

"It’s lunchtime at the Grand Theatre and things were unusually quiet when I entered the auditorium… but not for long! “Testing pyro!” shouted someone from the wings as a sparkly explosion erupted from the stage."

As part of the day's events, theatre's up and down the country have been posting pictures of their cast members holding the I LOVE PANTO signs! I spent a busy tea break running around to find willing volunteers to photograph - it wasn't too difficult, we're a stagey bunch of people.

Oliver Dale, Keith Harris and Lucian Collier

"The curtain rises on a town and we’re about to go from the top of the scene. Less than one minute in and we’ve stopped already – Nigel Ellacott’s entered from the wrong side of the stage, oh dear!"

The cast have a long day of tech rehearsals finishing at 10pm tonight, the crew will be staying until 2am to configure more of the lighting. They face the same again tomorrow, with a first dress run scheduled for tomorrow evening - it's a tough week! The show opens on Saturday and there are two performances each day!

Frankie Armitage, Bryony Thompson and Sophie Brooke-Ford

"The babes have joined the cast on stage and are ready for a musical number with Nigel but wait, where’s King Ken? He’s our very own Wolverhampton Wanderer! "

I've only spent five hours with the company today and it was clear within the first few minutes that they're a very talented and hardworking group of people. This afternoon was hilarious, and we only staggered through a few scenes! This year's pantomime promises to be very entertaining and I can't wait to see it properly at the press night on Tuesday. 

Robert Tregoning, Matthew Hartley, Oliver Dale, Sian Harriman, Lucian Collier

There are still tickets available for JACK AND THE BEANSTALK and I urge everyone to buy one. You can call the box office on 01902 42 92 12 or visit the website and book here: http://grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=604&sC=page10

Remember to read my full blog diary here: http://www.grandbackstageblog.co.uk 

THE LADYKILLERS (UK Tour) Interview with Michele Dotrice

After hours of traffic and floating through flood to reach the Malvern Festival Theatre we were given the warmest welcome backstage by Mrs Wilberforce herself, star of stage and screen - Michele Dotrice.

The Ladykillers play follows a similar premise to the films and premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in 2011. The Ladykillers opened at the Gielgud Theatre, London in December 2011 before embarking on a 2012/13 UK tour which visits the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in January.

When asked about what makes the play such as success Michele Dotrice began by explaining that the story of this little old lady is one that touches the heart. "It's a beautiful classic of it's time, but manages to be current and up-to-date for modern audiences. It's a Black Comedy set in the 50's and there's a laugh every couple of seconds."

This production is pure entertainment and is packed with special effects and a magnificent set - a subsided house that's difficult for even the actors to move around - which all adds to the humour of course. "There's something funny for all ages" she added. "If it's physical comedy you like, we've got it, if it's witty banter - we've got that too. We've had very young audiences at the show as well as the elder generations, my young grandchildren loved it!"

"Mrs Wilberforce is rather a challenge to play. I've never played anyone quite like her, I have the padding, an extra droopy chest, a grey wig and make-up to make me look older (none of which I'll need towards the end of tour I'm sure!) but I'd like to think I have my own take on the character that offers a different perspective to Katie Johnson in the film. The character is beautifully written."

Michele Dotrice rose to fame 40 years ago as Frank Spencer's long suffering wife Betty in the TV series Some Mothers Do Ave Em. "I can't believe that after 40 years people still go on about it, it's still shown on TV and people still love it. Betty was a very important part of my life and working with Michael Crawford was fantastic. He's recently come back into my life, he's in New Zealand a lot, but he'll be coming to see me in The Ladykillers I hope. I loved working on television, but theatre is where you learn your craft. Particularly comedy is a very difficult form of entertainment on stage as night by night and venue by venue the audience reaction differs - and when you get it right, there's no greater buzz."

Aside from Clive Mantle baring an uncanny resemblance to John Cleese there is a definite Fawlty Towers/Monty Python feel to the play. Middle-aged men dressed as old ladies? Check!

From the writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd, Graham Lineham, The Ladykiller's echoes the style of many popular British television series' and comes together perfectly to create such a fast-paced and tightly performed piece of theatre. The set by Michael Taylor as previously mentioned is breathtaking and the scene involving a car chase (without giving anything away) is very cleverly done and is hilariously silly.

Definitely one not to be missed The Ladykillers runs from 28th January - 2nd February 2013 at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01902 42 92 12 or by visiting the website here: http://grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=635&sC=page2