25/04/11
And the traditional festive spectacular isn’t something new to Tony as he has dipped his toe in the water of pantomime before. He recalled: “I wrote one once for Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie back in 1981. This one is my second and I get to play a baddie.
“When it comes to getting into character, the costume helps and I’ve grown a beard. As long as the tights fit, I am happy.”
A panto is always great fun for the audience but Tony is under no illusions that it is very hard work with two – and sometimes three – shows a day.
“It certainly brings its own challenges,” he said. “You have to be on the ball. There are shows at different times of the day and you have to keep yourself in reasonably good nick. If I’m replaced by an understudy, you’ll know I’ve conked out but I don’t intend to do that.”
He is certainly not short of enthusiasm for the role. With that characteristic Tony Slattery eye-twinkle, he said: “I know with these showbiz interviews, actors will always say ‘oh darling, this is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a foetus’ but the fact is since I became professional, I’ve wanted to do a pantomime. This is the first opportunity I have had to say yes.”
Tony has certainly enjoyed a rich and varied career since shooting to fame as one of the regular competitors on Channel Four’s hit improvisational comedy game show Whose Line Is It Anyway? This led to a number of small-screen hits including S and M with fellow Whose Line competitor Mike McShane, Coronation Street, Bad Girls and The Royal.
Tony also boasts a strong film pedigree with credits including Peter’s Friends, Up ‘N’ Under and How To Get Ahead In Advertising as well as being no stranger to stage work appearing in Me And My Girl, Radio Times and Pirates On Parade in the West End, and Perrier-Award winning The Cellar Tapes at the Edinburgh Festival.
He has most recently been seen as regular character Sidney, the village snob, in ITV’s Sunday night comedy hit Kingdom opposite one of the stars of last year’s Theatre Royal panto, Stephen Fry. Tony said: “Kingdom went down really well. It was old-fashioned Sunday night family entertainment and here I am back here doing the same sort of thing with panto. It should be great fun.
“I also have to say the Norwich panto is famed for its quality up and down the country so I’m excited to be working on it.”
Joining Tony in the cast will be singer, actor and Where The Heart Is star Danny Seward who plays Robin Hood, Norwich panto stalwart Richard Gauntlett who will don assorted lavish frocks to play Nurse Dottie, and the return of Danielle Kelly to the panto to play Maid Marian after she was spotted by the production team in the chorus of last year’s festive offering Snow White.
It will also see Tony reunited with fellow Eighties comedy performer Helen Atkinson-Wood who will play the Evil Witch in the production. He said: “I am really looking forward to working with her again. I did my very first TV in 1982 with her, Chris Tarrant and Phil Cool. It will be just delightful to work with Helen as I haven’t seen her in about 20 years.”
It sounds like the audience at this year’s show is going to be in for a real treat. There is no doubt he will be tickling the audience’s funny bone even though he has perfected the Sheriff’s sinister sneer.
Robin Hood, December 15, 2009-January 17, 2010. Tickets £5-£18.50. Under-threes free. Discounts for over-60s, under-18s and Groups. Signed performances on Saturday January 16th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Audio described performance on Saturday January 2nd at 2.30pm.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
For further information, interviews or images, please contact John Bultitude, Theatre Royal press officer, on 01603 598521 or j.bultitude@theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk