Artistic Director Tamara Harvey Makes Unexpected Panto Debut

Theatr Clwyd's Artistic Director Tamara Harvey made her unexpected Panto debut last night when a cast member was taken ill.

When the show started at 7:00pm the audience and cast alike expected Theatr Clwyd Panto's trademark mix of outrageous costumes, rock and soul classics and, of course, a sprinkling of Christmas magic. Then 5 minutes into the show lead actress Emmy Stonelake, playing Alice, twisted her knee and was unable to continue. But as they say the show must go on, and so, with a brief 25 minute break, a flurry of emergency phone calls and the quickest costume change ever devised, Artistic Director Tamara Harvey took to the stage to save the day.

"It's something that every Artistic Director is prepared to do" said Harvey, whose production of Home, I'm Darling at the National Theatre saw National Theatre Artistic Director, Rufus Norris, step into the breech when actor illness struck, "but I never expected I'd actually have to do it!"

Taking the phone call as she was coaxing her three year old daughter to eat broccoli, she rushed to the theatre.

"We're lucky to have an incredibly talented team at Clwyd, both onstage and behind the scenes - from our brilliant Dame Phylip Harries who ribbed me mercilessly and brought an extra level of hilarity to the show, right through to our team of dressers who dug out emergency costumes at 2 minutes' notice - it was a great team effort."

Panto Dame Phylip Harries said "There's a bit of added pressure when the Artistic Director takes to the stage, particularly playing my son's love interest, but Tamara aquitted herself admirably and got a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the show."

Theatr Clwyd's pantomime Dick Whittington runs until Saturday 19 Jan.