For the first time ever, Gloucestershire audiences can see Tweedy taking on his biggest challenge yet — playing the panto dame, and title role, Mother Goose!
On the Everyman Theatre stage from Friday 24 November 2023 through until Sunday 7 January 2024, there are more than 50 chances to see Mother Goose over the festive period.
Described as an entertaining treat for families — filled with adventure, dazzling costumes, impressive sets, upbeat musical numbers and a sprinkling of the Everyman Theatre’s annual panto must-see magic, SoGlos spoke to the Mother Goose cast as they rehearsed, to find out what audiences can expect this year.
Tweedy said: 'I've never really thought about playing the dame before and I thought "why not?"... It's me in a dress! But I didn't realise just how GLAM I was going to get. There are so many dresses, so many quick changes!
'It's a very clown thing to give something a go and see what happens. AND I'm the title role, which is another big thing, I'm on stage a lot... I'm very excited about it.
'Every year audiences say "this is the best panto yet" so there is a bit of pressure to keep making the next one better... but this one has also got a lot of interest from people in the panto industry — it's not an obvious choice. The clown is always the sidekick, not the dame, so it's going to be really interesting.'
Back for the fifth year in a row, this year's Everyman pantomime may have once again been written, choreographed and directed by Samuel Holmes and Nick Winston, but Holmes says this year's pantomime is 'a one off'.
He explains: 'When Mark Goucher CEO of the Everyman Theatre said he wanted to do Mother Goose, I said I love it, it's a very traditional pantomime, but it needs a star as the dame. And he said "let's get Tweedy to do it"! And this is the one and only time you will see Tweedy in a dress... It's the King Lear of pantomime dames and there is no-one better to put in the title role.
'I'm very excited... when Tweedy is put out of his comfort zone, we got more chaos, more magic, he's just a plethora of ideas, he radiates joy... I don't know if anyone is ready for Tweedy in a dress, but I think it's worth the price of a ticket for audiences to see!'
Starring alongside Tweedy in the villainous role of Demon Vanity is Jessica Martin, who has previously starred in over 30 West End musicals, and who describes herself as a 'very appealing character... very aspirational, the story is kind of about ME... but the costumes are also beautiful, very glamourous, so look out for those.'
Bree Smith will be
spreading seasonal magic in the role of the Good Fairy of Gloucestershire who shares that 'there is a lot of humour in this year's show, a lot of jokes, expect belly laughing!'
With Liam Doyle starring as Clarkson; Dominic Treacy as Caleb; Hollie Jane Stephens as Joanne; with an ensemble cast also including Samara Clarke, Bianca Sherratt, Josh Singleton, Jayd'N Tyrone, Jacob Whawell, Jemma White, and the role of The Goose shared between local students from Stagedoor Learning!
