eg. Jeff Brazier at Thameside Theatre (Grays, Essex)
with Juliette Dean? who?
Can you do better ie worse
[Celeb to Agent:
Are you trying to tell me thats the only offer for panto we've had?]
Panto is far from slumming it. The "names" involved get paid very well and kids are the hardest audience you'll ever deal with. Lose their interest and your show is dead in the water, so they'll be working hard for their fee.
Even The Fonz does panto, so it must be cool:):kitty: I think the guy who plays Phil Mitchell gets leave from Eastenders to do panto each year, apparently the money is very good for some of the more well known people.
People look down their noses at panto - but its probably one of the hardest of the theatrical things to get right. I think the whole panto thing has had a new lease of life over the last 15 years or so with the introduction of stars from the States and Australia taking part.
For anyone interested in who's in what - here's a site that says who's on and where. I think I'm going to make my way to Llandudno to see Cinderella - I love Jimmy Osmond.
You'll notice that Liverpool isn't here - but if you're interested ( ) we have Claire Sweeney and Ray Quinn (I saw it on a sign at a bus stop in Liverpool yesterday). I can't remember what the panto is - but I know they're in it.
Can't stand people who judge famous people for doing panto>:( It's a job and it's just for fun so hardly slumming it>:(
Although the current panto in Wrexham is a massive let down compared to last year as it only has Lloyd Daniels again (X Factor) and the Go Compare man:(
Last year they had Lloyd and Les Battersby (Corrie).
It's good money and is great fun for those involved . Win win .
It also has the advantage over 'proper' stage dramas in that if you fluff your lines or something goes amiss it can be glossed over or passed off as part of the show . What's not to like ?
Doing panto has become quite a big thing for those in the entertainment business. It's not regarded as the 'last resort' art form that it became seen as for a while. I'm nearly 45 and love pantos*!
Sherrie Hewson is in Hull, I agree with others though...its not the worst way for a celeb to make money. In Sherrie's case her 'career' is now Loose Women & Benidorm, so plenty of gaps to fill when those aren't filming.
It's a good earner. Playing to packed audiences having fun sounds like a good job to me.
It's like singing on cruise ships. This is seen by some as the lowest of the low. Yet you have Alfie Boe / Katherine Jenkins / Andrea Bocelli et al doing shows on the big liners. Flown out for a few days. Again a good earner.
When I was in NY and picked up a couple of magazines to read on one of my long metro rides, it does seem clear that they really prize coming to the UK and working in panto.
I think it's great. They don't see it as low key at all and love the response from the audience.
my daughter has been see Bobby Crush, Marc Baylis, Sonia & Jamie Rickers...She is 6 and went with the rainbows...I couldn't afford a ticket for me so waited outside in the car for two and half hours! She had no idea who anyone was & her friend was naughty she thought it would have been more fun with me! (so do I).
I don't think it is slumming it. Maybe they do it because they genuinely like interacting with a live audience? Panto is one of the oldest acting forms, so stop being bitter miserable sods about it.
If panto is good enough for sir Ian Mc Kellen, it's good enough for anyone.
Quite. We often forget amid all the showbiz celeb hype that actors act to earn a living. For every George Clooney there must be 1,000 jobbing actors, and because actors are so recognisable from film or, more likely, TV, many assume they are rolling in it. If it were thus. Like you and I they have bills to pay and have to work. Granted some might feel panto is 'beneath them' but in my experience it is only the bad and mediocre actors who are luvvie and precious. The good ones are pretty down to earth.
Comments
For anyone interested in who's in what - here's a site that says who's on and where. I think I'm going to make my way to Llandudno to see Cinderella - I love Jimmy Osmond.
http://www.pantomime.com/index.php
You'll notice that Liverpool isn't here - but if you're interested (
Although the current panto in Wrexham is a massive let down compared to last year as it only has Lloyd Daniels again (X Factor) and the Go Compare man:(
Last year they had Lloyd and Les Battersby (Corrie).
It also has the advantage over 'proper' stage dramas in that if you fluff your lines or something goes amiss it can be glossed over or passed off as part of the show . What's not to like ?
(*awaits 'Oh no you don't!')
If he can get that imagine what the top celebs are paid.
It's like singing on cruise ships. This is seen by some as the lowest of the low. Yet you have Alfie Boe / Katherine Jenkins / Andrea Bocelli et al doing shows on the big liners. Flown out for a few days. Again a good earner.
I think it's great. They don't see it as low key at all and love the response from the audience.
I see your chuckle bros and raise you Biggins and The Hoff.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2519984/Our-A-list-careers-THEYRE-BEHIND-US-After-TV-heyday-theyre-starring-panto-near-But-paydays-500-000-blame-them.html
I put forward John Barrowman and The Krankies who are at the SECC in Glasgow
Quite. We often forget amid all the showbiz celeb hype that actors act to earn a living. For every George Clooney there must be 1,000 jobbing actors, and because actors are so recognisable from film or, more likely, TV, many assume they are rolling in it. If it were thus. Like you and I they have bills to pay and have to work. Granted some might feel panto is 'beneath them' but in my experience it is only the bad and mediocre actors who are luvvie and precious. The good ones are pretty down to earth.