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Australian TV soap opera stars in UK pantomimes
Or Goldilocks goes home and away to meet her neighbours Aladdin and Cinderella.
1. Introduction
Since the beginning of the 1990s the traditional British Christmas pantomime seasons have featured actors and actresses from Australian TV soap operas. With the enormous popularity in the UK of series such as “Home and away” and “Neighbours”, British pantomime entrepreneurs found the presence of a popular actor or actress from the TV screen a sure way to attract young audiences and fill seats. The arrival of the Australian soap stars caused some consternation in the ranks of the British acting fraternity as reported in the Sydney morning herald (21 Dec. 1992). However, as long as the TV series remain popular, the practice continues.
The National Library has documented this phenomenon since the early 1990s by collecting a large sample of the vividly colourful programs and printed ephemera produced by pantomime managements. With the assistance of the Library’s Acquisition Consultant in London, Sara Joynes, supply of this material is a regular component in the ongoing acquisition of programs for Australians currently performing in all fields of theatre in the UK.
The UK acquisition activity supports one of the features of the Library’s Australian performing arts collection, namely the priority given to documenting Australian performing artists overseas. The exodus of Australian singers, actors, dancers, rock music groups, comedians, puppeteers, conductors, directors, designers …etc., going outside Australia for experience, training, or the eventual pursuit of an expatriate career has long been a feature of the Australian performing arts landscape. TV soap opera performers travelling to the UK to play in pantomimes is one contemporary aspect of that phenomenon. Examples of stars from other eras and stages such as Sir Robert Helpmann and Dame Judith Anderson are also well represented in the PROMPT collection.
2. Listing of pantomimes (alphabetical by title)
Australian TV soap opera stars in UK pantomimes -
|
TITLE/AUSTRALIAN PERFORMERS |
CITY/TOWN |
DATES |
MATERIAL HELD |
|
Aladdin Lucinda Cowden |
Marlowe Theatre, |
12 December 1992 |
Program |
|
Aladdin Greg Benson |
Theatre Royal, |
19 December - 1 January - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Lucinda Cowan |
Little Theatre, |
7 December 1995 – |
Program |
|
Aladdin Alex Dimitriades |
Cambridge Corn Exchange, |
16 December 1995 - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Felice Arena |
Theatre Royal, |
13 December 1996 - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Anthony Engelman |
Grand Theatre, |
13 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Isla Fisher |
Assembly Hall, |
18 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Mark Little |
Connaught Theatre, |
11 December 1998 – |
Program |
|
Aladdin Stefan Dennis |
Playhouse, |
21 December 1998 - |
Program |
|
Aladdin Marcel Bracks |
Gordon Craig Theatre, |
3 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Aladdin Alan Fletcher |
North Wales Theatre |
15 December 1999 – |
Flyer |
|
Aladdin Ian Rawlings |
Beck Theatre, |
17 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Aladdin and his wonderful lamp Rebekah Elmaloglou |
De Montfort Hall Theatre, |
20 December 1993 – |
Flyer |
|
Babes in the Woods Lucinda Cowden |
Theatre Royal, |
20 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Beauty and the Beast John Adam |
The Beck Theatre, |
14 December 1994 - |
Program Flyer Photograph |
|
Beauty and the Beast Mark Little |
Komedia, |
10 December 1999 –9 January 2000 |
Flyer |
|
Cinderella Gayle Blakeney and |
Pavilion Theatre, |
16 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Anne Charleston |
Grand Opera House, |
20 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Nicolle Dickson Alex Papps |
Pavilion Theatre, |
27 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Nick Parrish |
Grand Theatre, |
17 December 1994 - |
Flyer |
|
Cinderella Ross Newton |
The Cambridge Corn Exchange |
17 December 1994 - |
Christmas Season Special Souvenir Program |
|
Cinderella Ian Smith |
The Mayflower, |
16th December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Rolf Harris |
Wimbledon Theatre |
16 December 16 1994 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Bruce Roberts |
Grand Theatre, |
17 December 1994 – |
Flyer |
|
Cinderella Craig Beamer |
Kings Theatre, |
14 December 1995 – |
Program |
|
Cinderella Rolf Harris |
Birmingham Hippodrome |
21 December 1995 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Ray Meagher |
Chichester Festival Theatre |
13 December 1996 -12 January 1997 |
Program |
|
Cinderella Bruce Roberts |
Theatre Royal, |
11 December 1997 - 25 January 1998 |
Program |
|
Cinderella Richard Norton |
Towngate Theatre, Pool |
17 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Cinderella Benjie McNair |
Empire Theatre, |
15 December 1997 -10 January 1998 |
Program |
|
Cinderella Ray Meagher |
Cliffs Pavilion, |
18 December 1998 – |
Program |
|
Cinderella Isla Fisher |
Palace Theatre, |
18 December 1998 – |
Program |
|
Cinderella Stan Pretty |
Salisbury Playhouse, |
4 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Cinderella Tom Oliver |
White Rock Theatre, |
11 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington Gayle Blakeney and |
Empire Theatre, |
18 December 1992 - |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington Anne Charleston |
Theatre Royal, |
December 1992 |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington Richard Norton |
Barnsley Civic |
17 December 1994 – |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington Kristian Schmid |
Wycombe Swan, |
10 December 1994 - |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington Sarah Vandenbergh |
Arts Link, |
18 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington and his wonderful cat Gillian Blakeney |
Derngate, |
10 December 1994 – |
Program |
|
Dick Whittington and his wonderful cat Anthony Engelman |
Charter Theatre, |
13 December 1996 - |
Program |
|
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Ray Meagher |
Wimbledon Theatre, |
18 December 1992- |
Program |
|
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Emily Symons |
Hippodrome, |
22 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Emily Symons |
Mayflower, |
17 December 1998 - |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Kristian Schmid |
Orchard Theatre, |
11 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Ray Meagher |
Birmingham Hippodrome |
22 December 1994 - |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Dan Falzon |
Swansea Grand Theatre |
14 December 1995 – |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Ray Meagher |
Mayflower, |
15 December 1995 - |
Poster |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Lynne McGranger |
Princess Theatre, |
11 December 1997 - |
Flyers |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Sarah Vandenbergh |
Harlequin Theatre, |
13 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Lynne McGranger |
Grand Opera House, |
17 December 1998 - |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Daniel McPherson |
The Victoria Theatre, |
15 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Jesse Spencer |
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre |
16 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Scott Jones |
Woodville Halls Theatre, |
18 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Mother Goose Terence Donovan |
Theatre Royal, |
15 December 1995 – |
Program |
|
Peter Pan Terence Donovan |
Pavilion Theatre, |
27 December 1994 - |
Program |
|
Peter Pan Billy Kennedy |
White Rock Theatre, |
10 December 1998 - |
Flyer |
|
Peter Pan Lucinda Cowden |
Grand Pavilion, |
Flyer |
|
|
Peter Pan Ray Meagher |
Grand Opera House, |
26 November 1999 – |
Program |
|
Robin Hood Sarah Vandenbergh |
Swansea Grand Theatre |
19 December 1996 - |
Program |
|
Robinson Crusoe Tom Oliver |
Pavilion Theatre, |
17 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Sleeping Beauty Bruce Roberts |
Swansea Grand Theatre |
16 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Sleeping Beauty Anne Charleston |
Epsom Playhouse |
14 December 1996 - |
Program |
|
Sleeping Beauty Kate Richie |
The Tyne Theatre, |
9 December 1999 – |
Flyer |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Dee Smart |
Hull New Theatre, |
17 December 1993 - |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Rebekah Elmaloglou |
Eden Court Theatre, |
8 December 1994 – |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Maggie Dence |
Gordon Craig Theatre, |
9 December 1994 – 21 January 1995 |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Bruce Samazan |
Wycombe Swan |
14 December 1995 - |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Bernard Curry |
Hexagon, |
13 December 1997 - |
Program |
|
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs Anne Charleston |
Pavilion Theatre, |
19 December 1998 – |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Kym Valentine |
Beck Theatre, |
18 December 1998 - |
Flyer |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Anne Charleston |
The Playhouse, |
20 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Jacinta Stapleton |
Wyvern Theatre, |
17 December 1999 – |
Program |
|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Benjie McNair |
Assembly Hall Theatre, |
16 December 1999 – |
Program |
3. Location
The programs and ephemera are located in the PROMPT collection under: “PANTOMIMES (UK) – AUSTRALIAN PERFORMERS“
