INTERVIEW | Craig Hollingsworth, Belgrade Theatre
For thousands of families up and down the country, there’s one thing on their calendar they look forward to year in year out, a pantomime at Christmas. The pandemic has meant there are less opportunities for your more “traditional” trip to the theatre this year, although Qdos Entertainment have recently announced a 2020/21 season. Some UK venues are still hoping to stage socially distanced productions if theatres open early December (fingers crossed!). However, many have postponed their pantomime to 2021.
One theatre which is using the introduction of different mediums to reach their audiences though is the Belgrade Theatre. I’ve attended this theatre for a pantomime for the last four years and it is hands down my favourite of the season. Belgrade Theatre has this year created Jack and the Beanstalk Online, available from the 1 December. Craig Hollingsworth, who has performed at the Belgrade Theatre for years in their annual pantomime and became a household name spoke to me about this new venture for the Coventry theatre.
2020 would have been Craig’s 10th year in panto. “My pa used to take me to the Theatre Royal Lincoln every year without fail to watch a panto. I always knew I wanted to do it. My first panto was in 2009 and with Imagine Theatre, it’s also where I met Iain for the first time. 2010 was when I was offered the Belgrade Theatre but I was offered the Theatre Royal Lincoln to work with Cannon & Ball. I have dedicated my performance to Robert Harper Ball, who sadly passed away earlier this year. You may see how Ball’s comedy has had an influence on my character.”
Jack and the Beanstalk Online had lots of ideas before it was set in done what Iain wanted to create this Christmas. “We thought about filming one specifically as a panto, bringing in more cameras so it was for the TV screen. It came with its own risks; you still needed a full cast, full costume, full lighting to be able to do this and it wasn’t viable.” Using lots of Iain television background, (he produced The Tweenies), it meant he had his own studio where they created the pantomime. They’ve worked incredibly hard in a short space of time to create their show. “You can expect Jack and the Beanstalk Online to contain the standard gags, the slapstick comedy but there is differences within the cast. There is obviously the addition of social distancing and Covid thrown in there too! This panto will definitely have something for everyone to enjoy”.
“We filmed the show over 3 weeks ago now and it’s going through the editing process at the moment, being bolted together with special effects. It’s nearly there now! Given the circumstances we’ve done a really good job.” I have no doubt that the Belgrade Theatre will deliver with this production.
Their rehearsal process was still the same with their two week rehearsal period. Hollingsworth explained that this still gave the cast “time to play because that is really important for our show. It is more to the script than we would usually do”.
Of course, doing it through the screen isn’t quite the same and for Hollingsworth’s character this new format for a pantomime presents its challenges. “The one thing it’s going to miss is the audience and not having them. My character has an important relationship with his audience, I pride myself on that. This show has been more about taking it off the script in comparison to when our shows would be different every night, because of that audience. It’s been difficult to say a joke to the camera and not get a laugh.” Craig Hollingsworth has the opportunity in previous productions to chop and change when jokes haven’t worked particularly well with a live audience. Therefore this format is extremely different.
Christmas will be different for hundreds of cast members like Craig Hollingsworth who dedicate their time to pantomime. For years professionals like Craig have scarified time with their loved ones for the job they love which is entertaining families through pantomime. Their hard work and commitment has meant that he will experience “his first family Christmas for 10 years and it is going to be brilliant”. Although he says he will miss the “Belgrade Theatre, they’re the best. There’s no better feeling than going on that stage and before you’ve even done anything you get a cheer. It’s home from home Coventry is for me. I will miss the audiences and putting smiles on their faces whilst watching what we do”.
“We hope that this production will fill the void a little during this time, although we know it won’t be the same”.
This production of Jack and the Beanstalk absolutely does create more conversations surrounding accessibility for new audiences. Hopefully productions such as this will mean more pantomimes and productions alike
Craig Hollingsworth understands this pandemic has extremely affected the industry over the months, “I think those theatres that have survived, some won’t survive.” Although he thinks the situation for the Belgrade Theatre is different on the other side, “I have no concerns for the Belgrade, they bring more than theatre. They are the heart of their community in Coventry.” Hollingsworth believes that looking at this situation “will make theatres come out bigger, better and stronger. During these really tough times we have all turned to the arts, without probably realising. I think soon as we are given the opportunity to go back, the flood gates will open and people will rush back.”
Jack and the Beanstalk is available to purchase for streaming online at home between 1-31 December.