Ian Summers is making a welcome return to the Essex coast this month when he dons the exotic dresses once more as the Dame in the Princes Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Produced by Polka Dot Pantomimes it runs at the Station Road theatre in Clacton from Saturday, December 9, until January 1. Ticket prices are £14.50 for adults, £13.50 concessions and a family ticket for £50. Call the box office on 01255 686633 or book online at www.princestheatre.co.uk

What or who got you interested theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?

I always took part in school productions and took great pleasure in being involved both on stage and off. One of my fist memories is rehearsing in the school hall to be an inch worm in a compilation of Hans Christian Anderson’s tales. I had to sing a song about measuring the marigolds while dressed in a full body sock, stripped in yellow and brown.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in the theatre?

None of my family are involved in theatre or the arts professionally but my mother is a keen painter and an award winning flower arranger and my father used to paint and play violin. I recently discovered after the death of my grandfather last year that he had performed in plays, skits and pantomimes while fighting in Europe during the Second World War.

Who is the most inspiring person you’ve worked with and why?

I have worked with many inspiring people through the years and in every company you can learn from your peers and strive to do better. Most recently I have worked with a writer director called Emma Kilbey, who manages to create work of great emotional depth that is imbued with darkly wonderful humour.

What formal training have you done?

I went to university and studied theatre and intended to go to drama school but I was lucky enough to start working and have never looked back.

Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?

I don’t have anything specifically specialist that I bring to my repertoire but I have learnt how to arrange flowers from my mother and have incorporated that into a one man show I’m writing at the moment.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

I have to say being a dame with Polka Dot pantomimes has been a great experience and the most fun roles I’ve ever had.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

In last year’s pantomime I had novo virus and in the second act of one of the shows I had to leave the stage and be sick and hand the buckets to the stage management. It was so embarrassing but I went back and finished the show.

What role would you most like to play and why?

I would love to play the Emcee in Cabaret.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Yes a couple of times but always because of something an audience member has said or done. It is always hard to keep a straight face when an unpredictable event takes place.

Any big plans for the future?

I recently moved back to Cornwall, where I’m originally from and hopefully that holds some very big plans moving forward.

Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to other actors/directors?

Sadly not, just hard work and repetition, you need to keep working that muscle to keep it fit and so I often learn pieces of poetry or speeches when Im not acting to keep it ticking over.