As Barton Theatre Company approach the opening night of this year’s Pantomime, Cinderella, there’s one cast member who’ll definitely be walking tall for the next month or so.
Brian James has played Dame in Barton’s Christmas shows for over 20 years and is once more stepping into his high heels to strut his stuff when this year’s panto takes to the stage at the start of December.
“ It takes a bit of practice to keep your balance in 5 inch heels so I need to wear them as often as I can beforehand, to be sure I’m used to them by opening night.
“I did wonder about wearing them to work but I’m not sure that’d go down well with the bosses, so I keep them for rehearsals and when I’m at home”
Brian has played almost every Dame known to panto – and this year plays the part of Baroness Botoxia Hardup , Cinderella’s ‘wicked stepmother’
“ It’s a part I’m really enjoying and it’s very different from last year’s Widow Twankey, or Sarah the Cook from a previous show. Their costumes are always comic, sometimes grotesque, with large bloomers, striped stockings, big white aprons ….. you know what I mean ….. but this year all of my costumes are glamorous, my wigs styled in the highest of fashion and I’m loving it”
Joan Breen who wrote this year’s Panto said:
“ I know it’s usual in Cinderella to have two dames and to cast men as the Ugly Sisters, but we decided this time that we’d cast women as the sisters and make the Baroness the Dame.
“ When Brian’s wearing his heels he towers over Tom who’s playing the meek Baron Hardup and it makes for some very funny scenes.
“It’s hard to imagine a Barton Panto without ‘Dame Brian ! ”
With just less than a month to show week, Brian’s busy ‘rehearsing his ad libs’ though audience reaction on different nights means that he’s always got to be prepared to make them up on the spur of the moment as well.
Cinderella opens on Thursday 3 December at Salford Arts Theatre, Kemsing Walk ( off Liverpool St ) Salford M5 4BS
Evening performances at 7.30pm on Thursday 3, Friday 4, and Saturday 5.
Matinees: Saturday 5 at 2.30pm, Sunday 6 at 11am and 2.30pm
Tickets: £7.50 Children / Concessions £6 Family Ticket £26
Ring the theatre on 0161 925 0111 to book your tickets
