Leamington and Warwick Living Nov - Dec 2022

LUCK BE A LADY
TONIGHT!
ADVERTISING FEATURE
This year’s Belgrade panto is Jack and the
Beanstalk. We speak to Coventry’s favourite
dame, writer and star Iain Lauchlan...
Tell us more about what audiences can expect
Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the all-time favourites as it
offers all the usual elements of song, dance, comedy routines,
spectacular sets and costumes and, of course, good versus
evil. It offers all this plus a magical beanstalk that does a bit of
performing itself, a lovable cow called Daisy and an evil giant
who is making life a misery for all the inhabitants of the village.
How many Belgrade pantos have you been part of?
This is a difficult one. It was the Belgrade Theatre that brought
me south from Scotland as a young actor. My first role was John
Shand in What Every Woman Knows, which opened the 1980
season. I then stayed on for the panto, which was Jack and the
Beanstalk, and played a member of the chorus, the back of the
cow and half the three-legged Giant. I then did one more panto
as an actor and played the king in Cinderella.
In 1988, I was asked to write, direct and play in two pantos for
the Belgrade by the then Artistic Director Bob Hamlin. He told me
that there would only be two pantos as everyone gets the chance
to do two. Thirty years later I am still writing, directing and playing
dame.
What makes the Belgrade panto special compared to other
pantos across the Midlands?
The Belgrade panto has real heart and integrity. The story
and characters are put right at the centre of production. The
traditional values of the Belgrade panto are key and the audience
are so valued.
We use traditional comic routines to try to keep them alive,
a mix of covers and new songs so that the story continues
through them, we employ the best designers who aim to give the
audience a visual feast and talented actors who are right for the
roles and can bring the writing alive.
It is a process that takes almost a year to put together but it
is important not to accept second best as the loyal Coventry
audience expect and deserve the best.
How long does it take to transform into the dame?
To be honest, it takes about 20 minutes once I get into the swing
of it. Just as well as I am usually running around at the last
minute trying to get ready!
Book your tickets online:
www.belgrade.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk/
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