Cast Announced for Greenwich Theatre's RED RIDING HOOD

CASTING has been completed for the 10th anniversary of Greenwich Theatre's biggest and longest-running event of the year, the pantomime acclaimed by critics and audiences alike as one of the best in the country.

This year it's Red Riding Hood, written by and starring acclaimed pantomime dame Andrew Pollard, who says: "Panto at Greenwich Theatre really is special. We always sense a real affection from the audience and a real affection for the theatre."

Andrew, inevitably, is Granny, and his special relationship with Greenwich audiences shows no sign of waning. "There's a kind of shorthand we all have with the audience," said the actor who comes down from the Pennines every year. "They know the style and are with you straight away.

"When I do the dame I think I know what a comedian feels like who's quite well known because you're immediately on some kind of footing with the audience. It really is special, a two-way street, and I just love it."

The cast is made up of seven professionals - three of them popular regulars - and a chorus of four "apprentices" from drama school and musical drama courses getting an invaluable first step on the ladder.

"It works really well," said Andrew, "because they'll get wages and get a big kick out of it as well learning an awful lot. Panto is the perfect place to learn stagecraft because it's so relentless with a quick rehearsal period. It's really handy for us as well because we can throw them a few lines and give them anything basically as part of their challenge."

A "really strong" professional cast includes Martin Johnston, who made his first appearance last year as the Mayor in Jack and the Beanstalk. "Martin has done lots of touring with big musicals and we had a really good rapport last year," said Andrew. "He's a really good solid 'feed' and we get on great.

"Alim Jayda has done the last three pantos. He played the baddie last year, the giant's henchman, but he's back playing a comedy part this time. Because it's Red Riding Hood, we thought we'd get the three pigs in there as well as the wolf. Alim's the chief pig and he's great because, again, you can throw anything at him."

Also returning is Anthony Spargo, last seen in Greenwich as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood. "He's a brilliant comedy actor," said Andrew. "The only reason he couldn't carry on doing it was getting Horrible Histories in the West End and he went round the world with it actually. Anthony's plays the villain, Count Fracula. It's just a little bit political, I'd say. He's great and does lots of brilliant impressions, including Mick Jagger!"

Newcomers to the company include Kirsty Marie Ayers, Alex Spinney and Dawnita Smith.

"Kirsty, who plays Red Riding Hood, is a really strong singer - Greenwich audiences may recognise her from Sincerely Mr Toad or the West End production of Seussical that Greenwich supported," said Andrew. "Then there's Alex Spinney, the prince, who trained as an opera singer and has got an amazing voice and sings contemporary as well. Dawnita, who plays the woodland sprite, is an amazing dancer/singer from Bermuda. She's just finishing a run in Memphis in the West End. It's a really strong cast and the comedy end is especially strong. We're quite a small company so it always looks like there are more of us than there are!"

Andrew spotted the analogy with a football team. "Funnily enough, I always give a team talk even though I know nothing about football," he said. "I tell the cast on the first day, you've got to know your position. If you're playing the two lovers, for example. you've got to play it for all it's worth.

"Martin gets some jokes but he's the strong feed in the team. My job is to be the one who's dribbling around. I hate what I call back foot pantos where everyone's taking it too easy. I tell our cast to stay on the front foot, reaching out and driving the whole time.

"It's never an easy process but every single person at Greenwich Theatre - and there aren't many of them - pull their weight incredibly. It's a real team effort and it pays off because it's become a real tradition here and people love it. Yes, we're in London but the audience is local, as it should be, and that's something to cherish and keep."

*Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - Friday, November 20, to Sunday, January 10, 2016. Box office: 020 8858 7755

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