Alison Crawford had just come off the Epstein Theatre stage after being photographed by what seemed a million digital cameras zooming in her and the costume she is wearing for this year’s much looked forward to pantomime at the busy theatre.
Watching Alison from anywhere in the stalls of the theatre on Hanover Street, you cannot help but be entranced by the spectacle unfolding and at the back of the mind, in the recesses of panto’s past and the glory of rags to riches stories, you cannot help but understand just how important the role of Cinderella is in the magic of Christmas.
Alison Crawford comes off stage and as the glare of publicity starts to wind down, the cameras put away and the next assignments shuffled off to, she makes her way over to the side of the stalls, away from the prying eyes looking for the gossip of Cinders and Prince Charming and what their wedding will be like and starts to chat about pantomime, her love of working at the Epstein Theatre and staring alongside two iconic people in Calum Best and Beryl Marsden.
Does the pantomime still resonate with you as an actor?
AC: “I think as it was my first professional production that I ever did when I was 19 at this theatre and it was Cinderella, so it’s weird because you never forget the first thing that you did, the biggest till then especially because I’ve done it now so many times. It’s really natural to me and I find it to be the easiest show I’ve ever done, even though it’s a hard slog and as you say, it still resonates with me.”
You’ve been on that stage a few times over the past few years and each time you’ve been rather tremendous in what you’ve managed to portray and carry across. There must be something very special though about working with Beryl Marsden?
AC: “Well, my mother-in-law is the manager of a charity based in Penny Lane and I told her about Beryl being in the pantomime and her jaw hit the floor when I told her, she’s absolutely infatuated with things about the 1960s and The Beatles and everything. I went to a party with one of my best friends and Beryl was there so she also knows my friends as well and she was singing at the party – it was a big event and I was little bit star struck because I’m so involved with my mother-in-law’s charity. I was really star struck to meet her and go ‘oh my gosh, wow!’ Liverpool legends on the stage, Chris and Lewis are local lads and I think there’s going to be a good Liverpool vibe at the panto this year.”
The Epstein does draw in the crowds doesn’t it? You must have noticed that over the past few years?
AC: “Especially since it’s been reopened, it’s been really popular and people know about it more than they used to, it’s a fantastic space. Obviously it doesn’t just have big shows like this, there’s lots of bands and stand up comics who come here and use the space really well. It’s one of my favourite theatres.”
You must enjoy obviously working with LHK, with Lee; does he bring something different to the production?
AC: “I’ve worked with him for a long time, he’s so funny. I first started working for him probably about nine years ago and there’s something that I did that he just really liked and he kind of brought it out of me a little bit more. That’s why I think I’m so lucky that he asks me to come back year after year because I must something that he’s looking for but I’m also treated with such respect and so well that realistically he’s what I’m looking for as well. I think it’s a special relationship.”
It must be special as you seem to be willing to become the very epitome of a star at the end like in Cinderella? As an actor, that must be very gratifying?
AC: “Exactly! I feel so grateful and humble as well and lucky to be given this opportunity time after time and I always think when we do press launches like this that maybe people are sick of seeing the same face but I hope that I can bring something different to each performance.”
Do you not think that people like the feeling of familiarity and security in their performers?
AC: “I do definitely agree with that. I know that when you’ve seen somebody you like then you know it’s going to be a good production, if you like what they do. From an actor’s point of view, it’s always good to get different work and if you see the same people being hired all the time it can be difficult because you think ‘I want a go at that’ so who knows? May be I’ll move onto different parts in the future but obviously still working for Lee but I think you’re right, particularly with these pantomimes, the people that come back are the same. People will say I went to see it last year, it was really good, I know it will be good this year as there will be some familiar faces in it.”
It’s the local audience as well isn’t it? They need to know that it’s local people in it as well as the big star. Talking of big stars, you’ve worked with a few very good leading men. This year is no different with Calum Best!
AC: “What a gentleman! As soon as I met him he was just lovely. It can easily happen though, big celebrities can sometimes be not be the kind of people you expect them to be but he’s just lovely and I wait to work with him.”
He seems incredibly relaxed about it all, he was obviously very deferential to you and I dread to think what shenanigans on nights out you’ve managed to get him up to in Liverpool already.
AC: “Well, hopefully there will be a few more of those to come but he seems to be really into the spirit of things and he’s embracing it and going for it and not holding back or being nervous. He’s really looking forward to it.”
You said on stage about Cinderella being perhaps your favourite panto part, what it is about Cinderella that makes you like that part so much?
AC: “Well, if I think about how many times I’ve played it, that’s one of the reasons, I find it so easy. Deep down though I would love to play a baddie but I don’t look like a baddie! So the reason I think I find Cinderella to be such a special part is because it makes you feel so warm, when you’re on stage, people have an association or an emotional connection to you and they want you – they want Cinderella to find the Prince and they are on your side. I think that’s why.”
I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that the audience that has the history of pantomime goes with fact that there is this need to see the transformation of heroine or hero.
AC: “Oh definitely! I think that gives you the tingles, the thing that gives you the goosebumps when you see the transformation you go ‘Wow, this is it!’ I don’t know why it has that affect on us but it does, you want to see the journey.”
As Cinderella I must admit, you are very stunning, if that was O.K. to say that, you’ve done it before but there is something different when you come out in that beautiful gown at the end. It is that transformation stage that brings hope in that final moment.
AC: “We all come to panto to have fun, we come to panto to listen to great music and watch dances, to see some costumes, see celebrities. Ultimately we come to see a good fairy tale and what you said, to see hope at the end.”
Cinderella, staring Alison Crawford starts on Thursday 10th December at the Epstein Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
Ian D. Hall