Panto time is here again - oh yes it is! - and as always, the Midlands will be dishing up a fabulous feast of festive fun to satisfy the pickiest of princesses and the most particular of princes. Audiences can expect to be indulged with gags, giggles and mayhem aplenty as a dollop of zany characters don colourful costumes and reach for their slosh buckets. What’s On recently caught up with some of the well-known names who are helping to bring seasonal magic to the region...

Georgia Iudica-Davies and Debra Stephenson spin a yarn at the Grand
Debra (Queen Bertha) and Georgia (Princess Beauty) show their good sides in Sleeping Beauty, which runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Sunday 4 January

Debra and Georgia are a royal mother & daughter duo this year - and they’re already getting comfortable in their regal attire.

“The costumes are brand new, the script is brand new - it’s going to be very fresh,” says Debra.

Both actors are delighted to be working with the team at the Grand.

“I’m amongst people who have really mastered the art of panto and writing panto,” Georgia says. “That’s the thing I love about being within a new cast - you learn and you continue to evolve.”

The Queen and Princess are definitely at the ‘goodie’ end of the spectrum, which is one of the reasons Debra took the role: “In most fairy stories, you get strong women who are evil. Or you get nice women who are weak. This mother is a strong warrior woman and a real queen, but she’s no pushover, and she’s gonna fight for her daughter... I thought, ‘That sounds great to me!’ I don’t want loads of kids booing me.”

And although Georgia is more open to crossing over to the dark side (“The villains get the good songs!”) she’s happy to be making her debut panto princess appearance: “I’m excited to represent girls of my heritage. I’m a mixed-race, black-heritage actor from London, so I’m really excited to show girls - and boys, and everyone in between who looks like me - that they can be the royalty.”

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A good old Potteries ball for Jonathan Wilkes and Kai Owen
Jonathan Wilkes (Buttons) and Kai Owen (Dandini) return to the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent to star in Cinderella from Friday 12 December to Sunday 4 January

Jonny and Kai are back - ready to get up to holiday hijinx and, as always, adding some extra-special silliness into the mix for Potteries panto audiences.

“We give so much every year,” says Kai. “We bring the chaos with all these fantastic routines. We could add so much more - we make it as slick and as funny as possible!”

“I’d be silly if I didn’t say I like throwing toilet rolls out,” adds Jonny, “because you know I do!”

This year’s panto promises a winter wonderland...

“Cinderella is a classic story,” says Jonny. “Especially for the children, and the little girls who come dressed as Cinderella. It’s magical. That’s the one thing I would say about this year’s pantomime - what we’ve seen already from the sets, the costumes, it’s got the most Christmassy feel.”

Kai is celebrating a decade as part of the Regent’s panto family: “I’ve been here 10 years because I got welcomed in by Johnny. His care and attention, his pride in the city - it’s infectious. The crew in this theatre, and the audience, are really special as well. Every single night it’s like a warm hug... Once you’re in here, that’s it - it’s in your blood.”

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Sam Rabone and Matt Daines fight over a glass slipper at the Garrick
Sam (Aldianna) and Matt (Lidleena) are double trouble in Cinderella, which runs at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre until Sunday 11 January

You’re not seeing double! This year, the Garrick panto has two Dames and twice the chaos - a pair of Wicked Stepsisters!

“Me and Sam worked together in 2013 for the first time and have stayed friends ever since.” says Matt. 
“My first ever ‘sister’ from 2013 - Matt Daines!” says Sam. “It’s nice to be reunited with him. I just love being in Lichfield. It’s one of the most magical places at Christmas.”

It is, of course, a busy time of year for our panto performers, but Matt is ready to embrace the challenge: “I love three-show days! I don’t know why, I’ve always got a little buzz from doing them. You kind of do the first show, and you do it at full-out capacity, and then you reset as if it didn’t happen and you’re ready for your matinee and evening shows.”

And for Sam, what makes Lichfield so magical?

“Well, I live here! I love the fact that I’m local and at home for Christmas. Not many panto performers get to say that - but I can! And I love the theatre here. There’s not a bad seat in the house.”

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Christopher Biggins and Faye Tozer  journey to Sherwood Forest
Biggins (King Richard) and Faye (Maid Marion) reunite in Robin Hood, which runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 20 December to Sunday 1 February

The Hippodrome’s star-studded cast includes Steps singer Faye Tozer and panto royalty - both on-stage and off - Christopher Biggins. And this isn’t the first time the pair have shared a stage...

“I worked with Faye last year and I adore her!” Christopher says. The feeling is clearly mutual... “The lovely Biggins!” says Faye. “He is just the sweetest man. When I first met him, he was very rude to me - which I knew meant that I was on his side and that he’d fallen in love with me! He’s a really, really dear friend. He’s just a delight.”

Both actors are well accustomed to the world of panto - but what is it about this Christmas tradition that keeps people coming back for more year after year?

“It brings young people to the theatre,” says Faye. “It’s a really great place for families over the festive season - they’re looking for joy, and that’s exactly what it brings.”

And the actors get just as much joy from their audiences, according to Biggins: “I think it’s the audience reaction which is important. You can hear the audience coming in, and they get louder and louder, and more and more excited, and that gives you a real lift. When you go on, they do it all for you. It’s thrilling!”

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Brad Fitt and Tommy J Rollason seek their fortunes at Theatre Severn
Brad (Dame Dolly) and Tommy (Billy) star in Dick Whittington, which runs at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn until Sunday 4 January

Brad and Tommy make a great double act on stage - although one has quite a few more pantos under his belt than the other...

“My boots are older than Tommy!” says Brad.

For Tommy, the showbiz apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree: “All my family are in entertainment. My dad’s a comedian, my mum’s a singer and a dancer, and my sister’s in showbiz as well. So we all go away for Christmas, and then spend Christmas Day sleeping!”

This year’s panto, Dick Whittington, is Brad’s favourite.

“It has everything,” he says. “There’s a nautical theme, you travel overseas... It’s got, I think, the best baddie: King Rat.”

“My favourite bit’s normally the slosh,” adds Tommy. “We had a slosh routine in Sleeping Beauty - I always made Brad laugh...”

Brad once again takes on his double role of director/Dame and is looking forward to seeing how the show evolves across time: “It changes over the course of the run - I enjoy that about pantomime. If the audience are taken along with you, it’s fun for everyone.”

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Mark Rhodes and David Phipps-Davis catch 40 winks in Stafford
David (Nurse Nora Knickerbocker) and Mark (Hilarious Harry) are back in Sleeping Beauty, which runs at the Gatehouse from Friday 5 December to Sunday 4 January

This year’s Gatehouse panto features a dream of a comedy duo...

“Finding a comic you get on with and work well with is invaluable,” says David. “We do very different things; he’s more there for the kids - and the mums! - and I’m there for the adults - and the dads!”

“Dave is a dream to work with,” says Mark. “He has so many ideas, and he really wants to nail it. The key to watching a show where it looks completely crazy is that it’s been worked on to perfection!”

Midlander Mark is also happy to be spending the panto season close to home: “It’s brilliant for me, as I get to see all my friends and family over Christmas!”

And, of course, there’s going to be plenty of silliness on stage - which is just how this pair like it...

“I certainly do more ad-libbing than Mark,” says David. “There’s a level of love between us on and off the stage, and that informs everything. We make each other laugh.”

“With Dave, you just go with the flow,” adds Mark, “and every single scene with him could go anywhere. And that’s what I love about panto!” 

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Ian Smith and Alex Bain get ready for a royal wedding in Telford
Ian (Fairy Godmother) and Alex (Dandini) make the magic happen in Cinderella, which shows at the Telford International Centre from Tuesday 16 December to Friday 2 January

With redevelopments continuing at Telford Theatre, Ian Smith is back at the Telford International Centre for a second year - and this time he’s casting spells as the Fairy Godmother!

“It’s quite an unusual role for the Dame,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to it. Fairy Godmother - or Fairy G, as I’m going to be called - is still Telford’s nutty old aunt!”

The Telford panto isn’t Ian’s first brush with a glass slipper, however. This year he’s already worked with several cast-mates - including Alex and Shelley Anne Rivers - while directing Cinderella in Blackburn.

“I can’t wait to work alongside them!” says Alex. “Amazing, kind and supportive people - I’m looking forward to being on stage and in rehearsal with them all once again!”

“Alex is playing Dandini,” says Ian. “Very funny, very down-to-earth, very supportive... I’m really looking forward to not only directing him, but being on stage and sharing laughter.”

“Nothing is better to me than seeing an engaged and hooked live crowd,” adds Alex, “especially when they’re joining in with your jokes, the story and the performers on stage.”

“It’s going to be magical,” Ian continues. “I mean, it’s going to be ridiculous. We can’t wait for Telford. We love it; it’s great. And it’s up the road from Nandos, so happy days!”