00:00Panto means something like a story for all, hence Panto.
00:05And it's quite unusual, because if you think about it, it's only really in Britain we do Panto, not even
00:10Australia or Canada.
00:11Peter Pan is flying into St Helens this festive season, with a cast featuring some familiar television faces and local
00:19Panto favourites.
00:21Mark Labette, best known to millions as the Beast on ITV quiz show The Chase, will play the villainous Captain
00:27Hook.
00:27Labette first appeared on television as a contestant on Mastermind in 1999, before joining The Chase in 2009.
00:36Emily, I'm quite lucky, because effectively I'm playing Captain Hook, history's most evil Old Etonian.
00:43And as you might imagine with politics, there's quite a bit of competition.
00:47And all I'll say is after being a master teacher for 15 years, it's very easy to go full evil.
00:54He'll be joined by Flavia Kakache as Tinkerbell.
00:57Flavia spent eight years as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, and has also appeared in pantomimes, including Snow
01:03White at the London Palladium.
01:05There'll be a sprinkle of me in there.
01:07I think it's going to be a real fusion of styles, so I'm happy to have a go at anything,
01:13even things I haven't done before.
01:16And I'm sure, you know, these amazing cast members and dancers will be doing some jive flicks and some samba
01:24botafogos somewhere.
01:26The production's cast also includes Lewis Devine as Smee.
01:30Yeah, I think we're all in the same boat with pantomime.
01:32It's just to be part of it.
01:33It's I always call it the end of variety.
01:36You know, the old school variety shows you that London Palladium, all that type of stuff.
01:41There's none of that anymore.
01:42This is it.
01:43This is all we've got.
01:44The old school sketches, the old school comedy.
01:48Pantomime is the place to be for theatre.
01:50It's that I think these days, 100%.
01:51The production includes music, elaborate sets, colourful costumes and a high-flying adventure designed for audiences of all ages.
01:59So I'm very used to, like, having a fourth wall.
02:01So when I've done, I've done, I toured for, you know, eight years with different dance productions,
02:06but we always had that fourth wall, which we did not break until the bowers.
02:10So I think the biggest thing for me is to get used to having that openness with the audience.
02:16And actually, the more you can connect with them, the better it is, you know.
02:20So that will be a really nice experience.
02:22And I think because the audiences here are so lovely and so communicative, you know, that's going to help.
02:29Regal Entertainment has been producing shows across the Northwest for more than 20 years.
02:35The company stages four pantos at St. Helens each year, including its Christmas production.
02:40So far, I've played an ogre, a giant, a troll, Captain Hook twice, King Rat.
02:46Do you think they're trying to tell me something?
02:48The pantomime adventures of Peter Pan is being presented by Regal Entertainment at St. Helens Theatre Royal,
02:54running right throughout the festive season up until the 10th of January.
