As the nights begin to draw in, and we bask in the last few days of summer sunshine, another of the region’s pantomimes is launched as the cast of Eastbourne’s 2016 pantomime, the family favourite Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, assembled in Eastbourne last weekend to officially start the countdown to the pantomime.
Denise Black leads the cast in the role of despicable Wicked Queen, a role which will test her as, although she is such a well-loved actress, known to millions for her role in Emmerdale as glamourous grandmother Joanie, and in Coronation Street as hairdresser Denise Osbourne, this is her first ever pantomime.
Although she has never taken part in the pantomime, she has appeared in Eastbourne before as I found out when I asked her…
Have you played Eastbourne before?
I have played the Congress Theatre, yes. I was the Mother Superior in Sister Act for over 400 shows and, some of those, were here at the Congress, but I have never played at the Devonshire Park Theatre before. Everybody says that it really is the sweetest theatre to play in and all the people there are lovely so I can’t wait to find out.
It’s always great to see how quickly a panto cast come together like a family.
Well, obviously, I’ve been doing Emmerdale and, before that “Corrie” and the people you work with there are a bit like your family too. I’m a sailor, as it happens, and I always think that a cast is kind of like a crew. You get very close while you work together and everyone has a job to do and, above all, it has to be fun because, when you’re doing 13 shows a week, you’ve got to really enjoy it.
It’s a great time of year to be doing a show too.
Do you want to know my secret ?
Go on….
I’ve never done a pantomime before. I’ve got to my age and this is my very first one! I did try to be in one before, when I left Corrie, but somehow that all fell through so that one didn’t happen and this one is it! The number of shows, I’m ok with. I understand that we’re doing 13 a week but that’s not a record for me. I once did 15 shows in a week when I was doing Calendar Girls. I was on tour with that in Glasgow and then I would go over to Edinburgh because the Fringe Festival was on and I produced a midnight show as well, but that one did burn me out – so this time I’ll pace myself!
How did you get started in theatre and TV?
You know it’s a strange thing how a career goes on because, for the first 10 years I was really a singer. I sang for my supper twice a week in L’Escargot in Greek Street in the West End and in Maida Vale. I had all these gigs and then the lady who ran Jongleurs, a sort of alternative cabaret venue, became my manager so I did loads of different jobs in the theatre, but I couldn’t get any TV work and then, all of a sudden, I got Corrie.
I’ve been busy ever since, but I never take that for granted because I remember Sue Johnston saying to me that we all are in a state of permanent fear that this could be our last job. That’s the fever that you are gripped by because you don’t have the security that a lot of other careers offer you. I’ve had an interesting career so far, but I still want to “make it”.
What do you mean “make it”, surely you have “made it”!
No, No, No! I once took Timothy Spall out for a meal, because he was filming in Manchester and I was up there as well, so we went out and I said to him, “If you’re dream came true, what would happen to you?” and he said, “I want to be taken seriously as an actor”. That was Timothy Spall saying that, so I feel sure that I can say that I still want to “make it”!
If you have millions of people watching you every week, what is it that would convince you that you have made it?
Oh, so many things. I’ve just bought tickets to see Glenda Jackson playing King Lear. Glenda is probably one of the main reasons that I became an actress. I loved her in Sunday Bloody Sunday with Peter Finch and that would be one thing, I’d love to be in a really great British movie. I have actually had a tiny part in a film, called Last Orders, where I played Bob Hoskins’ wife in a flashback scene, but appearing in a great movie would be “making it” for me.
Denise joins Eastbourne favourites, comedian Tucker and of course Martyn Knight as Dame, who return due to huge demand.
So gentlemen, you’re back again.
(T) Yes, we’re back again aren’t we Martyn.
(MK) Oh yes we are!
And who are you this year?
(T) I’m Herbie the Huntsman
(MK) and I’m Dame Dotty but, to be honest, they are all beginning to merge into one now because this is my 13th pantomime here. No, seriously, I have played Dotty before and it will all probably come flooding back when we get the script – do we get a script?
(T) I don’t know.
I’m sure there will be one, you just won’t use it much!
(MK) No, we won’t use it, that’s the fun part!
(T) That’s not true Martyn, you do use it… to wrap your sandwiches in.
(MK) True.
Let’s forget the script, you’re good at that, and let’s talk about the frocks.
(T) You’ve got a Quality Street one on today.
(MK) I have indeed, it’s covered in Quality Street chocolates and Love Hearts that say “Tweet me” and “Hot Stuff”, which, of course, I am.
(T) And down there, hanging between your legs, is that a Brazil Nut?
(MK) It is a Brazil Nut, but just the one.
How many frocks do you have this year?
(MK) I’m not sure yet because we are still putting them all together.
(T) I’ve actually asked for Martyn to have more, because he doesn’t do enough changes. Normally he has a new frock for each scene, but I’ve suggested that he does three changes in each scene. So he will come on, do a line, then I’ll pad it out for a while so he can come on in a new one and then again towards the end of the scene cos he just doesn’t get changed enough.
How do you go about creating scenes that are so funny?
(MK) A lot of it becomes quite embryonic really. We try not to go for the completely obvious, if they work they work.
(T) We usually find our laugh and then, once we’ve got the laugh, we build on it. After the first few shows it’s really “bedded in” and very little will change after that, but the first shows are always fun because we never really know what the audience will react to. Maybe Martyn will have a weird outfit on, or he will come in from a different angle and there’s a new gag, something that only happens once the show is running.
How can you keep going and not laugh your heads off when the audience is cracking up?
(MK) Have you ever seen any of our performances? We never keep going, we just appear to. Although, some of the time, it can appear like we are enjoying it a lot more than the audience. I am terrible, I can’t keep a straight face at all.
(T) Martyn is actually a bit naughty, in the sense that he’s the one who gets others mess up. He can’t wait to get this Prince on stage. Look at him, he’s already thinking about how he can make the Prince laugh. Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance!
(MK) I might not bother this year, after all he hasn’t got a lot going for him… just good looks, talent, height, youth… he get’s on my nerves really.
The dashing Prince will be played by Tom Senior who last trod the Devonshire Park boards to great acclaim in the memorable Sasha Regan’s All Male HMS Pinafore, his many other credits include Godspell, Fame and Jersey Boys.
Is this your first pantomime?
No, I’ve done two pantos before, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast and now it’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I’m so pleased to have the chance to do one that I’ve not appeared in before and I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with the script, it’s very exciting.
Have you worked with any of the cast before?
No, this is my very first day so I’m still trying to get all of their names right. I’ve already had a long chat with Tucker and Martyn so I’ve got them, I just have to learn the rest now. I’m sure I’ll very quickly get into the swing of it and then, before we know it, we’ll be into those three show days over Christmas. On those days you start and then you sort of get lost in it and then you come out not really knowing what day it is – but those are the best days in panto.
How do you keep yourself fit through such a punishing schedule?
I’m quite keen on exercise and healthy eating, so that helps, but the main thing is sleep. That keeps your body fit and then, hanging out with the cast helps too. Because you’re away from your family and friends it’s really important that everyone helps each other and it’s just the best when you all go out and have fun and you can bounce off each other.
Snow White will be played by Hannah Boyce, who is returning to the role, and who has just returned to the UK following a successful run in The Judas Kiss in New York.
Is it a bit scary to be playing the lead character?
Well, I first played Snow White two years ago in King’s Lynn so I’ve done it before, but it’s always a bit scary when you start a new job and you meet all the new people, but the good thing with Jordan Productions is that they always seem to find a lovely team of people who all really work well together and I think that’s really important.
I’m guessing, from your accent, that you’re not local.
I’m not, no, I’m from Glasgow although I don’t live there now. I lived there until I was about 18 and then I went to Guildford School of Acting, so I moved to Surrey for three years, and now I live in Streatham, South London, so I won’t be too far from home when I’m down here in Eastbourne.
How does it make you feel when you look down into the audience and you see a mini Snow White looking up at you?
The first time that happened, and this sounds like I’m being dramatic but I’m not, I, genuinely, nearly cried. The thing is, that was totally me. I still have the Snow White costume that I wore as a little girl. I used to dress up as her all the time and that’s why it’s so brilliant that I get to play her now that I’m older.
My favourite ever panto moment was with one of those little girls in the full costume. She was down the front with her Mum and Dad and I said “Shall I eat the apple?” and I said, “I can’t hear you” and I took a bite anyway and, as I fell down onto the stage to “die”, the little girl stood up and just screamed “Noooooooooooooooooo!” It was brilliant!
Tickets are selling fast for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which opens on 9th December 2016 and runs until 15th January 2017 at the home of pantomime, the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne. To book, or for more information, call the box office on 01323 412000 or go online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.
