Five Minutes With...

Christian Patterson - actor and writer

Christian Patterson is an actor and writer best-known for writing Theatr Clwyd's hit Rock 'n' Roll pantomimes. With his next production Beauty and the Beast postponed until 2021, Christian has written The Panto That Nearly Never Was, which runs at Theatr Clwyd from December 17 to January 3.

Tell us about The Panto That Nearly Never Was what can audiences expect?

Think the full Theatr Clwyd Rock' n 'Roll experience but in micro form! We're packing a full panto into one hour and 10 minutes... give or take! It's brimming with laughs, great songs and spectacular costumes.

In what ways will it be different to a pre-covid Theatr Clwyd pantomime? What if anything have you changed?

From a writer's point of view very little! What I did go out of the way to do was to have absolutely no mention of Covid or the pandemic in the script. I think an hour or so without hearing those words would be a welcome relief.

Are you involved in the casting process? When you write do you do so with actors in mind?

Yes, Tamara, Tayo, Kay Magson (our wonderful casting director) get to watch dozens of uber talented actor/musicians, and it is an absolute joy!

You could cast the panto three or four times over with ease but it's also very exciting when someone comes in and just blows you away!

I love writing for new cast members but it's always particularly lovely to write for people I know, as I can cater especially for the character type and personal traits - it's like a perfect storm!

Will we be seeing any familiar faces in this year's production?

Yes but am I going to tell you who? No! Let's just say that there'll be familiar faces and new faces, and some familiar faces won't look as familiar as the Theatr Clwyd audiences are used to! I think that's cryptic enough!

You love pantomime, why is pantomime so important?

Panto is vital! It's a chance for the entire family to go to the theatre and be equally entertained regardless of age! I always feel very proud to be a part of such a longstanding and wonderful tradition and I hope to continue for many years to come.

What is your favourite Theatr Clwyd pantomime memory?

I loved Dan Lloyd and Emmy Stonelake tackling my troublesome tongue tickler Cousin Rhodri from Wrexham. It was absolutely brilliantly performed!

And as for Phyl Harries, he gets more outrageous every year! I leave one panto thinking how is he going to top that the next year but he always does. The costumes that Adrian Gee designs for Phyl are second to none and the wardrobe staff deliver year after year!

Have you learnt any new skills or worked on any exciting creative projects at home during lockdown?

I filmed an advert in Budapest in October and I got to be Father Christmas! Now, I'm not talking your run of the mill fancy dress Father Christmas, I mean, I was SO convincingly attired that I didn't even recognize myself in photos. That was a bit special.

Are they any changes in theatre you would like to see post Covid-19?

I would like to see freelancer poverty addressed properly and for comments like the one Rishi Sunak made about people in the arts retraining to be banished and never repeated again.

If you read a book you enjoy the arts, if you watch a film you enjoy the arts, if you watch TV you enjoy the arts, if you listen to the radio you enjoy the arts, if you go to the theatre you enjoy the arts, the list is endless.

Try to imagine, just for a second, what your life would have been like during the lockdown without any of these pastimes, for me it would have been incredibly grim.

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