WC DECEMBER 6.
I am just into my panto run – oh yes I am!!! I normally cover over 20. There are a few interesting ones this year – and one which might just make me very excited. Keep following this blog for more details.
There is also good news regarding the CD The John Hannam Archives Vol 1, which contains interviews with former stars like Tommy Cooper, John Mills, Adam Faith, Jack Warner and many others. I have no back-up stock left. Coach House, from Wootton, are selling them nationally via a link from this website and there are 11 stockists around the Island. See my news page for the list.
Thursday was quite a remarkable day – even for a work-a-holic like me. We arrived at the Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, the first theatre I ever visited as a child, to watch a 10am performance of Tresure Island. It began nearly fifteen minutes late, due to the late arrival of some school parties. At the end there was just time for a quick bowl of soup before taking a taxi to the Kings, Southsea. I was due to interview Aiden J Harvey, one of my favourite funny men, at 1-20. Then we saw the 2pm production of Jack and the Beanstalk. I had to review both shows for The Stage. That was not all, after the matinee I interviewed Britt Ekland, just back from the Australian jungle, for 20 minutes before travelling back to the Island. It did not stop there – reviews had to be written.
I felt more than a little sorry for my companion and volunteer roadie, Bertie, who also happens to be my girlfriend. Before she met me she had only seen one show in her life. To see two in just over six hours was dedication indeed.
Would there be a day off on Friday? I hoped not – and it was off to Rent, the Medina High School production. The fact that an Island high school could even attempt this complex musical was quite remarkable and it again proved just how many talented youngsters we have.
History was made on Saturday when I completed six shows in four days. On Saturday afternoon I went to the Wizard of Oz in Cowes and in the evening Dick Whittington at the Winter Gardens, Ventnor.