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Home / Interviews & Articles / Neighbours: They Love us! |
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This page was last updated on 4th March 2007. Page launched on 4th March 2007. Site launched on 30th October 2004.
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INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES
Neighbours: They Love Us! by Sinead Hanna Kent on Sunday, UK, January 2007
Australian soap actors are lining up to get on the Kent pantomime circuit as its reputation spreads around the globe. Producers say roles in pantomimes at the venues like The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, which has taken a record breaking £1 million this season, are in high demand from stars of the small screen down under. Emily Wood of leading panto company Evolution Productions said Aussie TV actors were 'desperate' to perform in the county because of the strong response they get from local audience.
"I don't know whether or not more people in the South East watch Neighbours, but there seems to be a real affinity between Australia and Kent," she said. Pantomime has been a major rise in popularity across the country in recent years, with high profile actors such as Sir Ian Mckellen and Simon Callow appearing on the national stage.
Mrs Wood said producers were putting extra time and money into getting bigger names and grander sets in order to stage West End-style family shows in the county for a fraction of the price. Evolution has produced pantomimes in Canterbury for 12 years, and in Chatham for three. This year's Marlowe show, Jack and the Beanstalk, starred Neighbours actor Ben Nicholas and former EastEnders star John Altman.
Mrs Wood said, 29, said: "Very few venues around the country can expect to take £1 Million during panto season, so word is obviously spreading. "With a lot of theatres you have to sell the location quite hard to agents but you only have to say the name of the Marlowe and people are eager to take part."
Ryan Moloney, who plays Toadfish in Neighbours, enjoyed a successful season at the Marlowe as Buttons in Cinderealla 12 months ago. Despite some negative press when his co-star Shiela Ferguson was subjected to racist heckles on stage, the young actor sang the town's praises back home. "When Ryan came back to work, he told us what a great time he'd had and the fantastic audience reaction in Canterbury," said his Neighbours co-star Ben Nicholas, currently playing Jack. "I couldn't wait to experience that for myself."
Mrs Wood beleives the county's quitessential English charm and good links to the Capital make it the main selling point to Antipodean celebrities. "Most of the soap stars in Australia know each other very well, and come and see each other on stage in England," Mrs Wood explained. "They really seem to like the Kentish experience. Ryan Moloney has already said he only ever wants to do panto in Canterbury."
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