Fareham Live pantomime: The Chase's Anne Hegerty headlines Jack and the Beanstalk as cast meet to launch panto season
Panto season launches as Fareham Live cast meet up for the first time
Extravagant outfits and innuendos were out in force as pantomime season was launched at Fareham Live.
The Chase’s Anne Hegerty and returning Dame Josiah Eloi are some of the headliners of this year’s version of Jack and the Beanstalk which runs from December 11 until January 3. On Tuesday, September 29, the cast and crew met up for the first time and donned their outfits as work begins to put on the show which Josiah said will “knock your socks off”.
Having made his debut last year, Josiah wowed audiences and earned rave reviews which has given him the confidence to be even more outrageous this year.
He said: “I’m so excited, I love Fareham and I love performing here. The people are great and the crew here are incredible. In the reviews everyone was so lovely, so this year we are coming back stronger. If anything I have got a bit more confidence this year, now I’m coming back thinking ‘oh screw it, I'm going to town with it.’
”We are absolutely going for it, we are a new venue with a few pantos down and we are putting the foot down on the accelerator. It is going to be great. It is going to be funny, funnier than any other Jack and the Beanstalk. Some of the things we have got lined up. it is going to blow your socks off.”
Josiah is known for TV roles as Darren in BBC’s Stuffed, Little Barry Brennan in Bad Tidings on Sky, and appearances in ITV’s Changing Ends.
Joining him and Anne in the cast is Carl Tracey in the title role with Poppy Valentine and Rachel Delooze as Jill and Fairy Flora respectively. Having only just met as a group of actors, Josiah can already feel the chemistry building.
He said: “What is so good this year is the cast. When you work in panto you get to know a lot of people and everyone here somewhat knows each other and everyone here really gets on. I think you are going to see from us as a cast what a laugh we have with each other and it is going to make you laugh too. You can expect a very tight and very funny show where we are all egging each other on.”
Ann Hegerty is well-known for her role as The Governess on The Chase but she has also been involved in pantos since 2014, including 2016 where she appeared in Jack and the Beanstalk at The King’s Theatre in Southsea. It is the fourth time she played the same role, although each time under a different character name, this year she is playing the villain Poison Ivy.
She said: “I love doing pantos. It is a chance to act, sing and be funny and do something that is not The Chase, so it shows people I can do something else.”
Having played the ‘goodie’ over the past couple of years she is looking forward to sinking her teeth into the role.
Anne said: “There are times when you feel like the good character is becoming a little bit to bland and its quite nice to get back to being a baddie and actually moving the plot along. The baddie does actually make things happen, I haven't seen the script yet but I know I am going to steal a cow, kidnap Jill and generally make a nuisance of myself and affect peoples lives so that is quite nice.”
Being the baddie comes with the expected needle from the crowd, the booing and being able to give it back which Anne said can be fun. However, she said that is one of the advantages of being a goodie as when she is booed she wonders “are you booing the character or are you just booing The Governess”.
Anne added: “At the same time it will be good to get back to being a baddie for a bit. There will be me being evil in a ridiculous headdress which I hope I can keep from falling off.”
More details on Jack and the Beanstalk at Fareham Live and how to be buy tickets can be found at trafalgartickets.com.