Worthing residents were greeted by a rather unusual sight this week when, among the t-shirt and short wearing tourists on the promenade, along came Santa, a couple of his helpers, Jack Frost and Billy, the head of Santa’s Elves.
Although quite a rare sight in September, the locals were not dreaming, for the assembled company had arrived to promote this year’s Christmas spectacular at the Pavilion Theatre, Jack Frost’s Frozen Christmas, which stars the X-Factor’s Marcus Collins and CBeebies Swashbuckle pirate, Richard David-Caine .
The new story finds outcast Jack Frost (Richard David-Caine) plotting his revenge on Santa as he begins to thaw the ice in which he has been frozen for the past 20 years. Jack threatens to freeze Christmas for all eternity, joined in his scheming by two new characters, Dee Linquant and Robin Banks, inept and reluctant baddies who create mishaps and mayhem at the North Pole.
Meanwhile in Santa’s workshop, there is a new head of the elves, Billy (Marcus Collins), who is desperate for a girlfriend but lacks the courage to ask anyone out. Audiences will also meet Hazel Knutt, Billy’s kind and loving grandmother as well as Candi Frost, Jack’s abandoned daughter, who works in Santa’s kitchen. The dancing polar bears and penguins which characterised the North Pole in last year’s production will also be re-united with Santa, Rudolph and his reindeer chums this year.
After taking some shots of Marcus standing next to a huge poster advertising his concert performance at the Pavilion Theatre on October 1st I sat down with him to ask about his upcoming performances in Worthing…
Are you looking forward to playing Billy, the Head of the Elves?
I am, it’s going to be really exciting this year. It’s my first time in Worthing and I’m really excited to see the audiences and to get out and about in the town as well.
Well, you’ve picked a lovely day for your first visit.
Yes, it’s stunning outside. It’s really beautiful and we’re all really hot in our Christmas costumes, but we’re making the most of the sunny weather.
I believe you’re in the middle of your concert tour right now as well, so life is a bit busy.
It’s slightly hectic, yeah. My debut solo tour continues through September and October, if fact I’m playing this theatre on October 1st, and then, in November I’m off to China. I’ll be over there for the whole month of November and then, when I come back, I’ve got just one day before I start rehearsals for Jack Frost’s Frozen Christmas and then I’m here through until January 1st – so it’s going to be a very busy season.
What do you think of the Pavilion Theatre?
It’s absolutely beautiful, really stunning. It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be and the stage is really great – it’s a lovely size. I can’t wait to see how it looks when the Christmas show moves in and I really can’t wait to bring my tour here as well.
Paul Holman, for producers Paul Holman Associates, told me: “Audiences and critics fell in love with last year’s production of Santa Claus and they will not be disappointed this year. The story of Jack Frost’s Frozen Christmas is cleverly written so, if anyone missed last year’s production, it won’t matter. It’s a new tale but the production values will be as high as last year; dazzling, spectacular scenery, glitzy costumes, a live band playing Christmas hits we all love to sing along to, and fabulous characters to engage and entertain.”
Jack Frost’s Frozen Christmas appears at the Pavilion Theatre, Marine Parade, Worthing. BN11 3PX from Friday December 12th to Thursday January 1st (Performance times vary). Tickets priced from £12.60 to £21.00, concessions £18.75, family of four £69.00, Friends of Worthing Theatres £17.25 are already selling fast from the box office on 01903 206 206 and online at www.worthingtheatres.co.uk There are also some tickets still available for Marcus’s concert performance on Wednesday 1st October.