PANTO 1979-80

Panto 1979-1980

Redbridge Theatre Company

Kenneth More Theatre Ilford

December 19^th 1979-January 26^th 1980

PUSS IN BOOTS

Freddie Lees, Nigel Ellacott, Rosemary Jenner, Brian Honeyball, James Curran, Robert Quarry, Gilly Daniels, Peter Dayson, Jonathan Caplan, Shealagh Dennis, Stephen Fletcher, Traci, Lyssa & Danni Elster.

 Directed by Vivyan Ellacott, Choreographed by Tracie Hart, Designer Amanda Fiske, Stage Manager Tony Bensusan & Les Groombridge, Costumes by Margaret Brice, Musical Director Laurence Payne, Lighting Stephen Crease.

Freddie Lees & Nigel Ellacott

The Dame was the superb Freddie Lees. Growing up at The Swansea Grand Freddie was the Panto Dame many times, and guest artist in the rep seasons. This is the man who influenced me more than anything (apart from my Brother) to work in theatre and especially Pantomime. Freddie was all you could want from a Dame, traditional, funny and with perfect timing. I was so lucky to get to work with this amazing man who was also my friend.

Gilly Daniels and Peter Dayson played Good and bad fairy and witch. I am still in touch with both of them, and Peter  directs and plays Dame in Panto each year. Stephen Fletcher became Stephen Fischer and along with Sally Ann Triplett appeared in West End Musicals and  were our entry in the 1982 Eurovision Contest.

I can remember one terrible Panto Joke that Freddie and I did onstage- He entered “wearing” a horse. What’s that I said “A Paloyorno” said Freddie. “Don’t you mean a Palomino?” Freddie: “Any Palayorno is a Palomino”. Here’s the scene photographed.

Puss in Boots is a Panto that has now been neglected- the story-line is thin- The tale of A Millers Son who inherits an artful cat- the Cat passes him off as The Marquis Of Carabosse, and between them they defeat an Ogre. The next time the Kenneth More did this Panto Peter Thorne was Dame and David Ian (Now an International Producer) played The Miller’s Son who is traditionally called Colin!

 

Here’s My Brother Vivyan with Freddie and me celebrating the opening night!