Interview with Hook actor, and panto director, Julian Addy

Last week we caught up with panto director Julian Addy ahead of teh opening of the Dorking Halls panto 2012, Peter Pan.

Q: So, rehearsals are well under way now, how are they coming along?

Julian said: “This is such a great cast, everything is being picked up quite quickly. These guys totally get it, it’s wonderful, even the strange bits that I am known for are all falling into place.

“I am giving Andrew (Smee) lots of things he hasn’t done before but he totally gets it and the panto has lots of physical elements.

“Peter Pan always sells well because it is such a beautiful story. Hook is one of the best baddies; there is lots of hope with Hook and then he smashes it.”

Q: What is the best and worst thing about rehearsals?

Julian said: “The best and worst thing about rehearsals is that you have lots of challenges, singing, dancing and you can get them perfect individually and then have to put them together so that it works.”

Julian is very keen to ensure his younger audience really enjoy their day out at the theatre.

He said: “I always try and direct like I am looking through the eyes of a child, if I lose them I know I should have done something differently. Often panto is the first introduction for children to theatre so for us as actors and directors it is our job to make it the best experience they can have.

“I have been to pantos that are so boring and they are thinking about an adult audience too much; it has got to be that you are thinking right from the start about the children.”

To book your tickets for the remaining shows call the Box Office on 01306 881717 or visit the Dorking Halls website.

Rehearsal Pictures

This gallery contains 3 photos.

Look at these pictures we took this week of the cast of our 2012 pantomime Peter Pan busily rehearsing ahead of opening on Saturday. The 10 minutes we saw were hilarious! Look out for the The Only Way Is Essex … Continue reading →

Olly Pike and Andrew Crawford talk about Rehearsals…

Rehearsals are well under way for our fantastic pantomime, which starts on Saturday, December 22, but cast members Olly Pike – Peter Pan – and Andrew Crawford – Smee – took time out to tell us how rehearsals are going and what they are looking forward to most during the coming weeks!

Olly Pike

“Rehearsals are going really well, we are learning our lines as we go along – I’m quite good at learning lines – but we are all going home and continuing to learn our lines, that’s probably the worst bit of rehearsals, you think it is only during the day but then you take it home too.

“The best thing about rehearsals is that it is so much fun! Andrew is really funny – watch out for Smee and Starkee! – they keep putting in extra jokes and putting their own spin on it, which is really cool.

“This is the first time I have played the lead and I am really excited about it! I have done some research into the JM Barry story and it is really great to know where it came from.”

Andew Crawford

“We are really moving forward with rehearsals – I feel like I’m the one who knows the least! I have read the script through a couple of times, I try not to do too much because you do it all in the rehearsal room and everything changes. You can play the whole thing in your head, you think you know what is going on and then it changes. That is just the way I have always learnt things in the past.

“I am having fun and I’m getting to know the cast, it’s been great to meet them and they are all so talented. It is really nice to work with people that are really good at what they do.

“Everyone is a great fan of Hook, everyone loves that film!”

Behind the Scenes at Rehearsals

Which star is keeping the cast entertained by cracking lots of jokes?

Check out our rehearsal interviews with the case in the next few editions of our enewsletter. Sign up at dorkinghalls.co.uk

Panto Stars Attend Christmas Lights Switch On

The cast of Peter Pan with Cllr Caroline Salmon at the Dorking Christmas Lights Switch-On 2012

On Friday 23 November the cast of Dorking Halls’ much-anticipated panto Peter Pan visited St Martins Walk shopping centre to celebrate the switching on of Dorking’s spectacular Christmas lights. Residents of all ages came along to have some fun and join in the countdown.

Familiar faces Olly Pike (Wiley Sneak from CBBC’s Trapped), who plays Peter Pan and Andrew James (Professor Poet from CBeebies’ The Rhyme Rocket) who plays Smee, were grilled by hilarious compere Mr Crimbo. They were joined by the evil Captain Hook, Wendy, who sang a song from the panto, and other fellow cast members. Mr Crimbo also wowed children with his tricks.

The Friends of Dorking’s mascot, a giant cuddly cockerel, also joined in the fun. His official name was announced following a competition run by the community group. He is now ingeniously called Dorkers – a name suggested by Harry Whitney from St Martins School. Harry won a gift pack and £50 of vouchers to spend at Fun and Games.

Councillor Caroline Salmon, Chairman of Mole Valley District Council, officially kick started the festive season by turning on the lights at 5pm.

This year a brand-new illuminated banner stretches across the high street. It features cockerels pulling Santa’s sledge!  

A number of performances of Peter Pan are taking place at the Halls from 22- 30December at times to suit everyone. For full listings visit the Dorking Halls website www.dorkinghalls.co.uk. Tickets cost £16.50 for adults, £14.50 for children and seniors, £13.50 for groups of 20 or more and £55.00 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children).

Purchase your tickets today by calling the Box Office on 01306 881717 or online by visiting www.dorkinghalls.co.uk.

Great Panto Pics!

These pictures were taken at the official Panto Launch Photo call – we were so excited to see everyone in their costumes!

The 2012 Pantomime Is Here!

Dorking Halls’ dazzling Christmas pantomime Peter Pan was officially launched on Tuesday 30 October. All the stars got together to celebrate, including Peter Pan, played by CBBC’s Olly Pike and fellow familiar face CBeebies’ Andrew Crawford, who plays Hook’s sidekick, Smee.

There will be 15 action-packed performances of Peter Pan at Dorking Halls from 22 – 30 December. The show features a host of talented professional performers, including Olly Pike (Wiley Sneak from CBBC’s Trapped) as Peter Pan, Andrew Crawford (Professor Poet from CBeebies The Rhyme Rocket) as Smee and special guest Tania Whatley ‘Fairy from Eagle Radio’ as Tiger Lily, plus a full supporting cast and talented dancers.

Olly Pike is excited about starting the show: “I have done panto before but this is my first time as the lead and this is going to be a great show. It is the rule to go and see a pantomime at Christmas and in this one, I am most looking forward to flying – I have not flown before!”

Julian Addy, who is both playing Hook and directing the show, said: “I have been in pantomime literally hundreds of times but I have never played Hook. There is swashbuckling and sword fighting, so what more could you want?”

Andrew Crawford, who plays Hook’s sidekick Smee, is excited about his first ever panto: “This is my first time doing pantomime. The rehearsals are going to be fun, lots of hard work, but fun and I am really looking forward to the first night.” In fact, Andrew is made for the role: “I have always loved panto, it is my type of comedy – it is about big expressions – it is perfect for me.”

Audience members of all ages can expect to laugh lots, while admiring the gloriously colourful costumes and enjoying the delightful dance routines and fantastic songs. Tickets are on sale and already selling fast.

To book yours, call the Dorking Halls Box Office on 01306 881717 or visit http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk

This much-anticipated new show is the work of Enchanted Entertainment, who produced Dorking Halls’ previous record-breaking pantomimes The Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Pictures from the Panto Stars

Don’t forget to check out pictures of our panto stars on the Dorking Halls Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Flickr page.

You can also follow all the final rehearsals and backstage information via Twitter @dorkinghalls

One Day To Go!

In the second part of our series of interviews with the Dorking Halls’ panto stars, we speak to Melissa Suffield, best known for her role as Lucy Beale in Eastenders. With just one day before the show opens on December 17, we discuss rehearsals, singing and the popularity of panto.

Melissa, there is only one day until Snow White opens, how are rehearsals coming along?

Melissa: “This is really quite exciting, it is going really well.
“I did panto last year and then we took it on tour at Easter – we turned it into children’s theatre.
“I went to panto a couple of times when I was younger but never to big theatres and never to see any celebrities, it was more local amdram theatre, which was great.”

Panto seems to be seeing a bit of a resurgance at the moment, why do you think that is?

Melissa: “There is a real significance put on panto for the actors as well as the audience. It is not what everyone thinks which is ‘o she is doing panto she must be out of work’.

“I know people who have turned down jobs because they want to do panto, it is really nice, it is instant. If the audience laugh at the joke, if they are making the right noises you know they are enjoying themselves.”

How would you describe your Snow White character?
Melissa: “I thought Snow White was a bit of a sap but she is hilarious, a lot funnier than I thought she would be. There is a bit of Disney in her but she is really funny too.”

Melissa Suffield as Snow White

Melissa: “From now on we just keep adding bits, adding the singing and the dancing and then adding the costumes, just keep pushing forward.

“I have always sung and I play lots of instruments but I am not a singer, it was only really doing panto last year that I sung regularly.”

Interview with Ben Kerfoot ahead of Dorking Halls pantomime

There are only 10 days to go until this year’s Dorking Halls pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs begins on December 17.

So we caught up with the stars of the show to find out how they are feeling as rehearsals get under way.
This week we are speaking to our Prince, Ben Kerfoot but we will also be speaking to Muddles, Drew Cameron, director Robert Forknall and our Snow White, Melissa Suffield.

We spoke to Ben just hours into the group’s first rehearsal.

So, Ben, how is first rehearsal going?:
Ben: “It has been really good to get with the rest of the cast, get to know the director a bit better and meet some of the crew.
“This is my first panto, it is nice, it is quite a short run for my first go.

“For the first rehearsal we are blocking out most of the first act and doing some team building.”

Did you go to pantomimes when you were younger?:

Ben: “I don’t remember going to panto, although apparently I did when I was really little and I loved it, screamed like a mad child.

“I haven’t been around panto so it is nice to make up for it now.”
What can the audience expect from this panto?:

Ben: “I think people can expect a really fun performance, lots of dancing and singing – I’m singing for the first time, which is a bit daunting but I am looking forward to it.”

“This is a flexible company who are really open to people bringing their own ideas to things.”

How does this compare to your usual role, as Oscar from CBBC’s M.I. High?:

Ben: “This is similar to a recent performance I did that was a Shakespeare piece at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer which was a princely character – so I can tick the Prince box, I do feel like I know the prince role now.”

To book tickets call the Box Office on 01306 881 717 or visit the website.