IT’S panto time this weekend and what better way to celebrate than to get the Mercury Theatre’s Dame, Antony Stuart-Hicks, to take part in our Curtain Call feature.

A massive hit last year, Antony is back for Dick Whittington, which runs at the Colchester theatre from this Saturday, November 26, until January 8.

For tickets, call the box office on 01206 573948.

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

I’ve always loved the sound of laughter. My Nan, who raised me, loved me to sing with her and encouraged me to never be afraid of an opportunity to perform. Pantomime was my first experience of live theatre in Liverpool. It starred a tremendous actor called Des Williams, a superb Dame and he became my mentor and a dear friend until he sadly passed away.

  • Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?

My Nan and her nine sisters (I’ve used a little bit of all of their personalities in my Dame) used to dance and sing as a hobby. There is myself and my second cousin Martyn Andrews who have gone into the profession as performers. I am also a producer and agent, whilst after many years as a TV presenter Martyn has just formed his own TV Company.

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

Tough question... it’s a really difficult business to sustain a career in and it does put strains on us all financially, with family, social life etc.... so anyone who keeps on ‘playing the game’ and never gives up inspires me.

  • What formal training have you done?

I couldn’t afford to go to drama school so that was not a viable option for me. My training is built upon experience of working from a very young age, all the way through school and then jumping straight onto a UK National tour after my A-Levels. I’ve been playing Dame professionally since aged 11 and worked the club scene as a singer/stand-up comic to obtain my Equity card. I wouldn’t change a bit of it.

  • Do you have any specialist skills which you work into your repertoire?

Funnily enough I’m a really good cook! I do a lot of upscaling old furniture for my house in Jersey and I’m pretty good at make-up.

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

Performing as Ken Dodd in front of the man himself and his family. Playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray alongside Olivier Award winner Leanne Jones.

  • What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Playing Polonius in the UK National tour of Hamlet. We played a theatre on the east coast and the backstage show- relay monitors (allowing us to hear calls) were faulty. I’m sat having a cuppa as per every interval, and I always took my lace wig off, when one of the assistant stage manager’s runs down telling me that I’m supposed to be on stage. 

With immediate horror at the reality of the situation, I dropped the tea over myself, ran to the dressing room and snatched the wig. 

I then ran up to the wings and as I was about to walk onto the stage I put the wig on and energetically entered as if nothing had happened. 

I was greeted by a vision of all the other actors crying with laughter as unbeknownst to me the wig was on back to front and was covering the left hand side of my face. 

I don’t know how we got through the scene but that day Hamlet was certainly a comedy.

  • Which actor do you most admire and why?

I'm a massive fan of Sir Ian McKellen. I love the choices of his roles and his versatility. His body of theatre and screen work is wonderful. I’m also a huge ‘Sherlockian’ and adore the incredible Jeremy Brett and the Granada Series. A masterclass in precision and detail.

  • What role would you most like to play and why?

I’d love to play Sherlock Holmes, Titus in Titus Andronicus. I also wish I could be the first male actor to play Madamme Morrible in the musical Wicked.

  • Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Of course not Darling! (All lies) I do find it more difficult the older I get to retain the laughter especially working in Pantomime as every audience is different so therefore anything can happen, and when working with Dale (Superville) it often does.

  • Any big plans for the future?

I’m producing and directing a stage adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles - which I’m really excited about!

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

Read the script obsessively before rehearsals and become confidently familiar with the full journey of the character. I often test myself by writing my lines down and checking any mistakes. We all have our own methods to line learning. Make it fun - do your job.