A conversation with in-house pantomime dame, Brendan Matthew, at the Bridge House Theatre, Penge, in preparation of their upcoming panto ‘SLEEPING BEAUTY’.

When did you first get involved with the panto at the Bridge House Theatre?

I became involved in the Bridge House Theatre panto at the very beginning, in the middle of the pandemic. The year previously, I had produced, directed and lent my voice to the role of Captain Hook in the Canal Café Theatre’s adult pantomime Peter Pandemic. It was here that I got a taste of how amazing panto can be on the Off-West End and fringe circuit (especially when you are creating it with your best friends).

I fell in love with the concept of delivering something usually delivered very commercially, to an audience a few feet away from you. You can see the smiles and hear the individual laughter. A year later, I texted my very dear friend, co-collaborator and panto expert Luke Adamson and said “I want to do a pantomime with you at your new theatre” and his response was “Already planning it! You’re in!”

So it was here that the award-winning Bridge House Theatre panto was born!

How many have you been involved in with the company?

All of them! In different ways! This year’s pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ will be my fifth panto with the company and my third as an actor. In our first year, we put together a rep company with two pantomimes. One was family-friendly (like all our pantos are now), Dick Whittington, and the other was an adults-only Sleeping Booty! Both had the same cast and with Covid kicking off again, both productions were presented with their challenges.

It was indeed a shame too as that year we were nominated for four Off-West End Awards and because of closure, we were unable to be fully assessed for consideration to win. The next year we were picked up by the Fullers Pubs and they commissioned us to present a touring pantomime Mother Goose then last year we toured Jack and the Beanstalk with yours truly as Dame Tabby Trott. All of the touring pantos had a stint at the Bridge House Theatre so we were always coming home! The Penge audiences love their local panto.

What are the challenges of touring a pantomime?

The weather! If you are outside then you never know what you are going to get. We often toured with a projection screen and a lot of costumes. The spaces were variable and we had to adapt to whatever we were given. Some were fantastic! Some were limited but we all pushed through the challenges. At the end of the day, it’s so important to deliver something for the young ones who may have never seen a panto. You never know where this experience could lead for them! You might inspire the next generation of actors. You suck up the storms and you play on!

Have you always been the Dame?

Nope! For the first three pantos, the Dame role was played by the wonderful drag artist That Girl who thankfully still has her projection cameo appearances each year. In a way, I see her as my Dame mother. I was originally sharing the villain track for the Bridge House Theatre panto in the first year and I have always choreographed them.

Which other Pantomime roles have you played?

The Villain was fun but in the same vein as playing the Dame, you have to create your drag brand that suits you. That was something I didn’t do as the Villain. Having worked with several excellent villains since it has taught me that the villain you play should always be in keeping with your brand. You are playing your Dame or your villain who is then playing their ‘Fairy tale’ character on top of that.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I have always been inspired by larger-than-life characters like Catherine Tate’s Nan or Lily Savage and so my Dame follows that ‘rough and ready route’. She’s an older lady with a lot of brass, who does everything to be glam but unfortunately comes out with her South-East London twang, smacking people round the head with her tiny handbag watching the Murray mints fly. She’s the mouthy pensioner who treats Bingo like a spiritual tradition and nobody dares come between her and her lottery numbers!

Do you have any pantomime dames that you aspire to be or you look up to?

I have huge respect for anyone in the Dame Sisterhood! There is even a Facebook group we are all a part of. Yes, I do have a few icons that I look up to from the Dame Dynasty. Such legends as the late Jason Sutton (or Miss Jason), John Inman and Nigel Ellacott were an incredible inspiration to me as well as current Dame icons like Andrew Pollard, Berwick Kaler, Matthew Baldwin, Anthony-Stuart Hicks, David Phipps Davis and Paul Tate!

Are there any Pantomime superstitions you believe in?

Pantomime is steeped in history and with it carries several superstitions. A few I go by are the entrances and exits of certain characters. The fairy usually enters from stage right and the villain comes on stage left. That can be difficult to manage with one entrance but hey ho, we move! Another one I take seriously is, NEVER say the last line of the end poem or learn the company bows (also known as the walk down) until the dress rehearsal. Also, write your audience love interest’s name down as it’s not fun to forget the name of your future husband! 

How did it feel winning the “Pantomime of the Year 2023” award for Theatreplays UK?

Validating! I truly realized then and there that the docs and frocks were going to be a huge part of my life from here on in. It was also wonderful to be with my cast of Jack and the Beanstalk when it was announced that I was a nominee. What made it even more special was that we won the Best Pantomime award too. So it was a win/ win for the whole team! It was also my first pantomime as a Dame.

I remember Luke coming up to me after our final dress rehearsal, looking me dead in the eyes and saying “Your Dame is a revelation!” For that to come from a pantomime director and actor that I truly respect, meant the world. We were also in competition with huge panto companies and celebrities, so to win against them was a huge achievement for this baby Dame.   

Is it hard to play a Dame?

It’s not easy! There are lots of plates to spin! You are the go-between for the audience and the story. They need to feel that they are in safe hands because you are there to guide them through the madcap narrative in front of them. A lot of the comedy rests on your shoulders and your timing needs to be on point at all times. You add in an extra word in a set gag or hesitate and you’ve lost them!

Children can sometimes be intimidated by the 6ft tall lady towering above them, caked in make-up, yelling cockney slang at the boy with the magic beans too. I’ve had one little girl cry, believe me, I had to work hard to get that little darling back onto my team!

Not to mention the costumes are like wearing houses! It is sweaty work and you have to continually spray your face with hairspray to keep your make-up intact but I wouldn’t change it. For all its challenges, the buzz you get from making people laugh and the magic you are creating for the younger audience members is the best feeling in the world. Plus I get to prat about the stage over Christmas with some of my best mates!

Who else can audiences look forward to seeing in the Pantomime this year?

This year we have two new faces to the Bridge House Theatre panto family. My dear friend and West End leading lady, Stefani Ariza, will be weaving her evil magic as Wicked Fairy Carabosse and Georgina May Haley will be taking a nap as Princess Bella and Fairy Nice, not to mention Luke Adamson who is playing my son Willy Wetlettuce this year as well as directing and writing it. Also a big shout-out to my costume designer Amanda Beauchamp! The Dame’s costume designer is her closest ally in most cases.

What can we expect this year from ‘Sleeping Beauty’?

Everything! All of the tricks that you get from any of the big house pantos you find here for less expensive tickets. Last year we had a beanstalk materialize with Jack climbing it. This year you’ll get all the magic of the Sleeping Beauty story and then some. There’s even a slosh scene!

The one thing I would say is that the Bridge House Theatre pantomime is never predictable. There are twists and turns, the plot is often turned on its head or seen from a different perspective.

The only thing that will remain the same is that it’s about a Princess who pricks her finger and goes to sleep thanks to a curse from an Evil Fairy experiencing a bad case of FOMO. It’s a family affair too! It’s never a snooze fest for the parents. It’s just as much for the adults as it is for the children. It’s going to be a very messy, sloshy, hilarious wild ride!

Brendan Matthew will be playing ‘Dame Dirty Gertie’ in Sleeping Beauty at the Bridge House Theatre in Penge, South East London from the 17th – to the 30th of December 2024.

Please use the link below to find out more information and book tickets.

Sleeping Beauty