Top Panto Star
OVER 1,000 SHOWS!
Steve Royle is a Grand Millennial
Much-loved panto star and stand-up sensation Steve Royle will celebrate an incredible 1,000 pantomime performances in this year’s seasonal spectacular Sleeping Beauty at Blackpool Grand Theatre. Ever popular panto star Steve Royle will take his 1,000th bow on the beautiful Blackpool Grand Theatre stage this year as he once again delights thousands of families in the magical pantomime Sleeping Beauty this Christmas. Oh yes he will! Everyone’s favourite finalist from ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent will star as Silly Billy in this year’s fabulous, festive tale and it will be the thousandth time he has filled every member of his lucky panto audience with sheer joy and delight. In his millennial year, Steve Royle will be swapping lines with Dancing on Ice champion and Emmerdale star Hayley Tamaddon and celebrated playwright and top soap screenwriter Philip Meeks (Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Doctors) in Sleeping Beauty’s enchanting tale of magic, mayhem and misunderstandings live on the Grand Theatre’s famous stage. We spoke to the famous funny man and top panto star before he begins rehearsals for this year’s spectacular seasonal show and says ‘It’s behind you’ to his 1,000th panto performance! But what was Steve Royle’s first ever pantomime at The Grand? “It was Peter Pan with Maureen Nolan in 2002,” said Steve. “As long as I can remember my eldest daughter’s birthday then I can remember what year I did my first panto at The Grand, because she was just 10 months old and learnt to walk in the narrow corridors outside the dressing rooms holding onto the walls for support. I’ve held on to those same walls for support many times since then during after show parties!” And what was his favourite panto character? “I’ve always loved playing the part of Buttons because he plays such a
major part in the pantomime and requires some ‘proper acting’ during the lovely pathos scenes. However, playing Smee alongside my good friend Tom Lister as Captain Hook has certainly provided me with the most laughs. “I have so many favourite memories from over my panto years to choose from. Some of the funniest moments have come from the kids we’ve had on stage during the song sheet - I will always remember the child who said they wanted a remote-control submarine for Christmas. I couldn’t help saying “you’re going to be staring into space and crying at the side of a lake on Boxing Day with your Dad shouting “I told you not to press dive!” I also love the ballet lesson scene I wrote for Cinderella many years ago and it still rates as one of my favourite scenes I’ve ever performed.” And we at The Grand agree! Madcap panto star Steve has also made hundreds of his co-stars laugh along the way, with some of them becoming firm friends. “I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing people from various areas and eras of show business,” he says. “Some have gone on to become close friends like Tom Lister, Danny Miller, Amy Thompson, & Hayley Kay. I recently went to Danny Millers wedding, and it was wonderful to see him do so well becoming King of the Castle on I’m a Celebrity last year. “I think most people know that Tom Lister is now one of my closest friends and we regularly meet up for chats and drinks. We also collaborated a lot during the pandemic writing and performing on-line chat shows, sketches and of course our amazing Don’t Close The Curtains cabaret which we performed to care home residents through their windows. We see more of each other than we do our wives! (and have more of a laugh too, ha ha!) I also still get a Christmas card each year
For full show listings and bookings visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information. 12
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
www.lancmag.com
