Photo credit: Richard Davenport
This year’s pantomime at Theatre Royal Winchester is Mother Goose, which is set to run until Sunday 5 January 2025.
We spoke to Julian Eardley, who plays Mother Goose.
Julian, Mother Goose is your 15th panto at Theatre Royal Winchester. Is there a favourite panto you’ve been in and/or character you’ve played?
Well, I have to say playing Mother Goose is a long-held dream of mine, so I am really enjoying performing her with all her faults, weaknesses and virtues.
She is a delightfully complicated lady but lots of fun to portray.
Prior to Mother Goose I really enjoyed being Dame Dolly Donut in Dick Wittington as that was such a crazy and silly show to perform as it was full of ridiculous costumes and situations.
What does panto mean to you?
Panto always involves lots of energy and great amounts of fun.
It’s been a part of my life since I was a child as I can remember being taken to see pantos from an early age, long before I thought I would appear in them. Now I am older I realise that seeing a first panto is an important introduction to the world of theatre and entertainment, so I now feel an added responsibility to all those first-time audience members to make the show as special and as fun filled as possible.
What rituals do you perform to get you in the mood to go on stage?
My main ritual is putting on my make-up before the show, as that is a time for a sit down and a bit of calm reflection as I make myself as glamorous as possible.
I am a terrible chatterbox so I also have to take myself off to a quiet corner for a bit so I can prepare to do the show. This is also when I make sure all my costumes are hung up in the correct order for the show.
Why should people come and see Mother Goose?
Mother Goose is a panto that does not get done as much as it should nowadays. It is a bit of a morality tale.
Mother Goose is poor but good natured and helps to pay her neighbours’ rents with the golden eggs that are laid by her friend, Priscilla Goose – the goose that lays the golden eggs. But, Mother Goose is tempted by the offer of beauty and glamour and betrays her friend the goose. Luckily, she sees the error of her ways and is able to sort things out before it is too late.
The world is a difficult place to navigate at the moment so hopefully people will see a bit of that reflected in this story along with all the traditional pantomime fun and silliness.
What festive snack and/or drink will keep you going this panto season?
Mince pies and brandy butter, mince pies and cream, or mince pies qnd a slug of Bailey’s!
What does Christmas Day look like for you?
Coffee and pressies in our pJs, followed by champers and nibbles, preparing lunch, eating lunch, a massive post lunch snooze, washing up and, finally, another snooze in front of the telly.
Theatre Royal Winchester’s traditional family panto is packed with corny jokes but do you have a festive joke for us?
What is Santa’s favourite kind of pizza?
One that’s deep-pan, crisp and even.
Having returned to Winchester year on year, what is your favourite thing about the city during the festive season and/or otherwise?
Winchester is lovely all year round.
It sparkles in the sun in the summer and it twinkles in the cold of the festive season.
I only have to step off the train at Winchester train station in November and I know that my favourite time of year has arrived – Winchester, panto and Christmas, all rolled up together in a fantastic, fun-filled, fondue of festive frivolity.
Perfect!
Mother Goose will be at Theatre Royal Winchester from Saturday 30 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025. For more information, or to book tickets, visit: theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or call 01962 840 440.
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