Turn Again Twankey
Late January this year I had the chance to visit Panto Pals in
Birmingham and Nottingham, and thoroughly enjoyed “Aladdin” at The
Theatre Royal in Nottingham and “Dick Whittington” at the Hippodrome
Birmingham, and to catch up on all things Dame with Andrew Ryan and
Jeffrey Holland. Once the pantomimes finished- the scenery was
struck and at the Hippodrome the giant mirrorball that heralded Joan
Collins’s entrance was shipped off along with Twankey’s Mangle (A neat
vanishing trick in itself) and returned to the store at Beverley.
All around the country pantomimes packed away their costumes
and props, and the curtain fell on a season that saw audiences and cast
and crew struggling to get to theatres through snow and ice. The coldest
December since 1909 I believe? Even so those audiences did brave the
weather, and in most cases the shows did go on- despite the onset of
‘Flu and bugs that swept around theatres countrywide this season. Hoorah
for those who made it in to perform and to those who braved the roads to
watch- all in all I think the theatres caught up in time and in most
cases played to near capacity business.
IBY regular
Michael Butcher sent me a series of photos he took of the current Panto
Exhibition at the Hippodrome Birmingham- Michael reminded me that the
exhibition is in the lower foyers of the “Hippo”, and has been extended
since my last visit. Here are some of Michael’s photographs. When I took
a look myself the collection of posters, programmes and photographs was
fascinating, and I was delighted to find a good few photos of Peter and
I as “Sisters” up on display, as well as some material supplied by
its-behind-you.com. I’m not sure if this exhibition is going to be on
for a long time (it certainly looks permanent) and I admire the way it
has been connected in a “time line” giving headlines from the newspapers
for each year of the panto. If you get a chance, take a look. It is a
great trip down memory lane!
Michael’s selection of
pictures illustrate magical panto years such as the Des O’Connor
“Cinderella” with Peggy Mount, my pantomimes there with Rolf Harris,
Judy Cornwell, Robin Cousins skating across the stage and Brian Conley’s
“Dangerous Buttons” routines- Pantomimes stars such as Billy Dainty,
Larry Grayson, Alfred Marks, Cilla Black, Harry Worth, Les Dawson, Danny
La Rue, Norman Wisdom (With Qdos Director Jonathan Kiley, director and
producer of this year’s pantomime- in an early panto role!), Charlie
Drake, Dickie Henderson, Ken Dodd, Mathew Kelly, The Chuckle Brothers,
and a great many of the pantomimes presented by Paul Elliott and Peter
Tod. The gallery also features the most recent stars including John
Barrowman and, of course Joan Collins, Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and
Keith Harris. The exhibition ends with last year’s spectacular “Sleeping
Beauty”, presented by Michael Harrison with Joe Pasquale and Ceri
Dupree. A fabulous free exhibition if you are in the area!
Nigel
Ellacott
2011





























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