Cinderella - Interview with Brian Conley
- New Victoria Theatre
- Fri 2 – Sat 31 Dec 2022
We’re very pleased to have you back in Woking again, are you looking forward to being back?
Of course, very much so. I love panto and it’s my first love. It really ticks all the boxes. The cast are singers, and dancers (although I’m not a brilliant dancer – I lasted 6 weeks on Strictly) and people want to see the fun and we give them just that!
Panto is a different type of laugh too, it’s a family laugh where the whole family can enjoy the jokes right from the kids up to the grandparents – everyone is having a great time!
I missed panto so much in lockdown so I’m happy to be back. I’ve been in EastEnders for two years, so being in panto is very different to that – it’s all about having a laugh and making people smile.
Get that Buttons costume dry-cleaned!
You’re a pantomime veteran now, how did you originally get into panto?
It was that long ago, I really can’t remember. I’ve always done panto.
I come from varied backgrounds and although I love the television side too, live is really where it is at.
The first panto I saw was 57 years ago and I have never forgotten that first moment of seeing a live show. There are kids in the audience tonight that won’t forget this as their first-ever panto – and that’s just magical!
Last year, Ian McKellen came to see the panto I was in Southend. I didn’t realise and I had put a joke in about calling one of the characters Gandalf. I think Ian must have thought I knew he was coming! After the show, Ian commented about how the panto had made him cry with laughter – that’s the magic of panto!
What can we expect from the Cinderella pantomime this year?
Lots of fun and laughter for the whole family and it really is just that! We want to ensure that people go away feeling like they have had a good time at the panto!
Last year in Southend, we didn’t have a single night where there wasn’t a standing ovation. We always put on a good show from the beginning which makes the audience come back for more and more.
You’ll be doing over 50 performances in Woking, how do you keep your performances so fresh and exciting?
I made a commitment as a performer to always put on a good show. It’s in my blood and what I’ve been doing for so long. I appreciate how important it is for everyone to say they enjoyed the show.
Word of mouth is so important and it’s so vital for everyone to enjoy the show so much that they then go and tell their friends, and this will keep them coming back for years and years with different family members.
Another thing is I don’t drink (I haven’t in 19 years) so I like to do the show, go home and sleep – because it’s very important that I’m fresh and ready to give the best show the next day.
What is the secret to a great pantomime?
Energy, pace and visual comedy play right across the board. It’s also really important to make it local and topical too so the audiences can relate.
If you keep it visual and silly… it makes a great pantomime!
What’s your favourite part about pantomime?
Laughter. I love making people laugh. I’ve been it most of my life. It’s also for the whole family – parents, grandparents, and the kids. Everyone relates to the jokes, and everyone ends up laughing at everyone else.
I just love being live and since lockdown, it has made everyone appreciate things more. I love being in EastEnders but of course, that is different being in front of the camera but you just can’t beat live.
