Gina Murray is the wicked Sheriff in Robin Hood
‘Panto is like Shakespeare in many ways’
Gina Murray, 51, is the wicked Sheriff in The Capitol’s Robin Hood
As a professional actress for nearly 40 years now, I’ve been lucky enough to play very many and varied roles on TV and the stage including in Doctors, EastEnders, Chicago, Fame, Mamma Mia! and The Hunt for Raoul Moat but I’ve always wanted to be in panto.
I dreamed of being an actress and singer since I was a child. My parents were both involved – my dad Mitch is a songwriter, and my mum Grazina Frame is an actress – so it was natural. They’d take my sister Mazz and I to watch pantomimes when we were young and we loved the fantasy world of magic, music and laughter. It’s all about that energy pouring off the stage and coming back again from the audience. It was even more powerful for me, because I wanted to be up there too. I’m addicted to that energy, I think.
I’ve done quite a few pantos now. My first was when I was in my 20s, playing a princess in Aladdin. During the run, I played to my smallest audience ever: a family of four. They had the option to reschedule and unbelievably they decided to watch. I actually shouted: ‘Hello Boy and Girl!’
After I had my two sons, Joe and Max, I went back to work as the Fairy in panto. I even brought my three-month-old baby, Joe, out on to the stage for the finale. He began crying loudly before the big moment as he and I waited on stage behind the front cloth. I was worried it was a terrible idea.
But the lovely wardrobe department at Watford Palace had made him a divine, tiny mouse outfit to wear and he looked adorable so there was no way we weren’t going on.
As soon as the curtain lifted and the music played, I sang ‘All I want for Christmas’ to him and he fell silent. It was perfect. Since then, I’ve played the Fairy six or seven more times, but I’m extremely excited this year because this marks my very first villain in panto.
I’ve been wanting to be a baddie for a long time. I’m really looking forward to the experience, but I’m very aware that the energy from the audience will feel so different from what I’m used to as a fairy. I think it will be quite a shock, but I’m up for the challenge. It is the only time when boos from the audience indicate a job well done, after all. Panto succeeds or fails based on the reaction from the audience.
As actors, we thrive off their energy. Panto is a real art, and I believe it’s the hardest discipline (schedules are more punishing than regular shows and often it’s way more physical), but it’s also the most rewarding and the experience you’ll grow and learn your job from the most.
I’d liken panto to Shakespeare in many ways. It’s an intrinsically British art form and it’s been embedded in our culture for centuries. Gender is very fluid within it, tradition dictating that males play females and vice versa; you address the audience directly by breaking the fourth wall but also play your role truthfully. Both art forms are packed with nuance, tragedy and comedy and are so wonderfully entertaining. I can’t wait!
Robin Hood is on at The Capitol in Horsham November 22 – January 4. Tickets from £22.50.
thecapitolhorsham.com/events/robin-hood
James Austin Harvey is King Rat in Dick Whittington this year
‘There’s something exciting about being booed!’
James Austin Harvey is King Rat in Dick Whittington at Shoreham’s Ropetackle Arts Centre
Fifteen pantomimes in, and I can honestly say the magic never fades. By day, I manage a tour company in London, taking guests around the city’s sites, but when panto season comes around, everything shifts. Out go the tour scripts, in come the wigs, the makeup, and the chance to bring a beloved British tradition to life.
This year marks my fourth pantomime at the Ropetackle Arts Centre, and it always feels fantastic to return. My first show here with LP Creatives was Dick Whittington, where I played Sarah the Cook, the Dame. Now I’m back in the same story, but this time as the baddie, King Rat and there’s a real sense of homecoming in stepping back onto this stage.
Over the years, I’ve alternated between playing the Dame and the Villain, and I adore them both. The Dame is warm and silly, all jokes and outrageous costumes, but the Villain – well, the Villain is irresistible. There’s
something delicious about being booed by hundreds of children and secretly knowing they love every minute of it. King Rat is sly, menacing, and just a little bit funny, and I’m excited about finding that perfect balance. Of course, getting into character takes a little backstage magic.
For King Rat, it’s all about dark eyes, sharp contours, and just enough theatrical flair to make him larger than life. The moment the makeup is done, the wig is on, and the costume fitted, he’s there, ready to command the stage. I usually direct so I’m working furiously on and off stage. But this year I’m handing over directing duties to the fabulous Tom Beard. It means I can fully focus on performing, without the added responsibility of steering the ship. It’s freeing, and it allows me to dig even deeper into the fun of playing the villain.
This year is promising to be plenty of fun. There’ll be dazzling musical numbers, the odd groan-worthy joke (it is panto, after all), and the kind of joyous energy that keeps theatre alive. As for me, after 15 pantos, I still get a thrill from that first chorus of boos.
Dick Whittington is at the Ropetackle Arts Centre December 19 – 31, various times. Tickets, from £12 plus booking fee while a family ticket is £80.00 (Two adults and two children, or one adult and three children.)
ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/dick-whittington-shoreham-panto-2025-17/
Susan is nice to everyone during her day job as head of drama
‘I’m looking forward to finding my inner minx’
Susan Salmon is playing Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
In my day job, I’m always trying to help everybody and be as nice as possible, so this is quite a change. I teach at a girls’ school in Brighton and as Head of Drama, I can spend the day either teaching, rehearsing, organising trips, or I’m knee deep in the costume cupboard looking for a parasol or a hat.
I wanted to get involved in the Brighton Family Panto as I went to see it last year and loved watching all the families enjoying the performance – and booing and shouting at the characters. For many kids it’s their first experience of theatre and it reminded me how much fun it can bring but also how important it is to keep these traditions alive for the next generation.
I love the idea of being the villain. I used to watch the ‘Once Upon a Time’ TV series with my daughter when she was younger. The villains always had the best backstory, and the best lines and no matter how they tried, they couldn’t stop being bad! So, I’m really looking forward to finding my inner minx and finding Fleshcreep’s evil laugh as well as wearing a glittery outfit!
This is my first panto. But I have done a lot of family shows and I love the energy of a young audience as you’re never quite sure what the children might say or do. The energy is electric. I really like it when they get involved in the story and you hear a gasp from the audience – especially (spoiler alert!) when I catch Jack.
I’ll need to do a vocal and physical warm-up before going on stage as the audience might be louder than me with all the boos and so I may have to shout over them. I like to listen to some villainous music to get into character and maybe channel a classic villain such as Maleficent by looking at a picture which I’ll keep by my dressing room mirror. Makeup is next, as there are some thick eyeshadows needed and a dark red lipstick.
My costume is fantastic and so is the jewellery – it’s the finishing touch to becoming the iconic Fleshcreep. I can’t wait to get out there and start being bad!
Jack and the Beanstalk is at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, December 23 – 30. Tickets start from £8.
.eventbrite.com/cc/jack-and-the-beanstalk-3908303?just_published=true
Kerry hated being the pretty fairy and much prefers to be a baddie
‘I can’t wait to be a baddie’
Kerry O’Dowd is Carabosse, the wicked fairy in Sleeping Beauty at Eastbourne’s Royal Hippodrome Theatre
I’m a full-time singer, frontwoman of The Retro Rock Show and a Cher tribute artist, but I always find time to squeeze in one pantomime a year.
It’s such a unique and glorious tradition. Panto is the one place where adults can act like children again and completely let their hair down, just like Rapunzel, but with more split ends. As a child, one of my favourite moments at the panto was booing the baddie, it was such a thrill. So now I’m delighted to the facilitator and conjurer of that same energy. I can’t wait to give audiences that same experience I treasured growing up.
Of course, this isn’t my first brush with panto. I once had the horrific ordeal of pretending to be a pretty princess, which wasn’t for me. I also played one of the ‘village folk’ as a child. But this role feels completely different – it’s a chance to really come alive on stage.
I love the entire process of getting ready. Putting on my make-up helps get me into character before stepping on stage. I’m hoping audiences will love this panto – it’s fun and is full of great songs which kids might call ‘absolute bangers.’ This year’s show promises to be a wonderful mix of tradition, mischief, and magic, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.
Sleeping Beauty is at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne, from December 8 – January 4. Tickets from £12, family ticket from £50. Adult only performance (18+), Thursday December 18, tickets £20. royalhippodrome.com/event/sleeping-beauty/
Quang Luong is Viper in Gladiators who everyone loves to hate
‘I’m going to be as mean and moody as possible’
Quang Luong is playing the role of Boris Von Vindscreen Viper in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Crawley’s The Hawth.
In my day job I’m Viper in Gladiators, so I was drawn to the role of Boris Von Vindscreen Viper in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because I love playing a baddie. I’m expecting the crowd to go mad when I come out on stage, booing and shouting. It will be great fun.
Last year was my first time in panto when I starred in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Sheffield Lyceum. I enjoyed bonding with the cast and the atmosphere backstage – it was a big team effort. But mostly I love the boos so I’m back for more at The Hawth!
I’m going to bring my experience of playing villains in the past to be as mean and moody as possible, so the audience really wants to boo me. As Viper I’m the Gladiator everyone loves to hate and I also appeared in the James Bond film Die Another Die alongside Pierce Brosnan as a villainous soldier.
My favourite thing about the festive period and pantomimes is that everyone is in a good mood, enjoying themselves. I’ll be giving this my all and on Christmas day I will be eating and refuelling! I’ll be training first, though. I go to the gym in the morning, every morning. It’s a great vibe seeing everyone there at Christmas with people training in Santa hats. But after that, it’s time to eat.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at The Hawth, Crawley from December 5 – 31. Tickets from £25, at hawth.co.uk
parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth/whats-on/snow-white–the-seven-dwarfs
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