POPULAR comic actor Craig Hollingsworth will mark five years entertaining Belgrade Theatre crowds this year when playing Idle Jack in this year’s panto Dick Whittington.
Starring alongside Belgrade legend Iain Lauchlan – who writes, directs and plays the Dam – Craig has built himself a reputation as the perfect comic character following his laugh out loud moments during the past five years.
This year’s Belgrade Pantomime performance of Dick Whittington runs from Wednesday, November 23, until Saturday, January 7.
A big believer in having a strong story, Craig said the Belgrade provides the ideal location for a pantomime – and he enjoys that the main focus of the performance isn’t the celebrities like other pantos.
Craig said: “I think it’s important to be really warm in pantomime and break down the fourth wall.
“If you can connect with the audience, then you’ve instantly got them on your side.
“I think I’m quite mischievous as a comic character and I do a lot of side glances to the audience.”
One of the main attractions of pantomime for theatre goers is not only the festive pull, but also the unpredictable nature of the genre.
Despite years on stage, Craig admits thing go wrong all the time – and even added he sometimes pushes for things to go wrong.
He said: “Providing you make a joke out of it, the audience love it.
“To be honest, if things do go wrong in one show we might keep it in if it’s really funny.
“Pantomime is all about the Christmas spirit – one of the things I love most about coming back to Coventry each year is the audiences.
“I also love that pantomime is such a traditional thing for the British public, and for so many children, pantomime is their first experience of theatre.
“As a child my grandad would take me to the theatre all the time and I would sit in the audience and say ‘I would love to do that one day’.
“It was from there that it became a hobby and eventually a career.”
Craig’s career in pantomime ignited when performing at Butlins as a redcoat.
Reflecting on his first performance on stage, Craig explained how he was handed the microphone in front of 2,500 people and was told to fill a 20 minute slot.
“It was terrifying,” admitted Craig.
“They said ‘Here’s the microphone, here’s the stage, you’ve got 20 minutes to fill. Off you go’ – it all went from there.
“This year people can expect lots of slapstick, lots of silly humour, loads of dances, and the costumes and the sets are stunning.
“There will also be plenty of in-jokes – Brexit will get a mention, as well as Pokémon Go, and possibly even Donald Trump.
“If you haven’t been yet, make sure you come along.”
Tickets for the performance are available from £16 for adults, £11 for children or £43 for families.
Visit www.belgrade.co.uk or call the Belgrade’s Box Office team on 02476 553055.
