Now in his ninth consecutive year of playing the Dame for the King’s Theatre, Allan Stewart admits “it’s getting a bit silly now…” but this year the company, Johnny Mac, Grant Stott and all the regulars, are tackling something slightly different Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates. “It was originally back in the seventeenth century that Crusoe was done as a panto” Allan explains, “and its lost a lot of popularity over the last 30-40 years, so we’re taking a slight chance, but all pantos are essentially the same…you just change the name slightly.” So we still have the baddie (Grant Stott), the adventurer (Johnny Mac), and the beautiful lady (Allan Stewart), and luckily despite the titular reference, no Orlando Bloom in a pirate hat (thank God).
Grant in the biggest prankster, he can spend an hour hiding in your wardrobe…
Last year the 3D genie was a real crowd grabber, but true to the historic nature of this panto, the company are employing more theatrical methods, “we’ve got an underwater scene done with traditional UV, it’s really a very beautiful and artistic scene and the actor doing it is really very good.” But aside from some artistic turns, how are you going to beat those inflatable boobs and Amy Winehouse beehive, “this year I’ve got boobs that move everywhere, they’re filled with water and end up on your back.” Maybe it’s a good idea to avoid the front row, this time. Of course with any panto the long runs can be grueling and hard, but Allan tells us exactly what the guys do to keep up the energy: “The audience keep you up, the Dame fortunately has a rapport with the audience so you get something different every night. We have also been known to play tricks on each other…not always on stage, Grant in the biggest prankster, he can spend an hour hiding in your wardrobe just so he can jump out at you…he’s dangerous.”
WINNER OF COMP: MELISSA PERRY
Playing at King’s Theatre:
Start date: 28 Nov
End: 17 Jan
7pm each night
www.eft.co.uk or call 0131 529 6000 for performance times and prices.