Stage: no sleep before Sleeping Beauty
The hard work in making a dame look like a dame at The Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne
This year’s show at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, Sleeping Beauty stars Bernie Nolan fresh from her national tour in Chicago as Mama Morton; Eastbourne’s own resident comic Tucker, as Chester the Jester, and Martyn Knight, returning for his ninth consecutive Eastbourne pantomime as the South’s most outrageous Dame. Martin has become the south coast’s most popular panto dame during this time and is a fine upholder of the true panto tradition.
Martyn’s costumes as Nellie Night Nurse prove to be a particularly challenging and enjoyable part of the Wardrobe Designer’s job. Shelley Stevens, who has worked on Eastbourne pantomimes for nine years, explains that she normally starts designing the costumes in April. For this year’s show, with the exception of just two costumes, Shelley has designed and made, with the help of her assistant Sam Hart, all the outfits that will be worn on stage, a staggering 90 costumes!
That’s a lot of material, with an average Dame’s outfit using anywhere from between 6 to 20 meters of fabric in just one dress! It takes Shelley around one week to create a Dame’s costume; however she has been known to make one in just three days.
Pantomime is a particular highlight in the theatre calendar, with the show created especially for Eastbourne the whole theatre complex becomes a buzzing hive of activity, with props being made in the Floral Hall, and the Devonshire Park Halls becoming rehearsal spaces. In the past the maintenance team has made extravagant props for the shows including a full-sized Dr Who-style Tardis!
Sleeping Beauty is packed with surprises which the theatres have kept firmly under their nightcaps, but the promise is for the biggest fun-packed pantomime ever.
Sleeping Beauty runs until 13 January, tickets from £11, available from the box office on 01323 412000 or online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
Fying high at the Hawth
Rehearsals for The Hawth’s magical pantomime adventure Aladdin are now over and the show is open. The cast have really put together a show that will make audiences’ wishes come true.
Les Dennis (Widow Twankey), Noel Sullivan (Aladdin), Richard Grieve (Abanazar), Helen Kurup (Princess Jasmine) and Jon Clegg (Wishee Washee) have worked hard alongside a talented cast of dancers, actors and local children from Roshe Dance School to bring to life this magical tale of carpet rides, genies and a cave of wonders.
At the same time at The Hawth stage the technical team have worked their own magic turning the stage in a far off land where anything can happen and dreams can come true, while the wardrobe department have finished the wacky and wonderful costumes for Les Dennis’ Widow Twankey and polishing up sparkling tiara’s for the beautiful Princess Jasmine.
Aladdin runs until Sunday 30 December 2012. From £15.50, available on 01293 553636 or online at www.hawth.co.uk
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