Get us in your inbox

Search
Clive Rowe
Photo: Rob Greig

Clive Rowe interview: ‘I would describe myself as a bloke in a frock’

Four years after he hung up his frock, Hackney's legendary panto dame, Clive Rowe, tells Time Out why he's been tempted back for ‘Mother Goose’

Advertising

‘I needed a break from pantomime. I have been to pantos where the dame is not fresh. It’s not terrible but you’re very aware that the person on stage has been on stage for a very long time, doing the same thing again and again. It was good for me, I’ve come back with a new hunger.’

‘I don’t enjoy “Cinderella”. I don’t like there being two dames on stage, so Hackney Empire were happy that I wanted to take a little breather so that they could do it.’

‘My 2009 Olivier nomination for my last “Mother Goose” is my proudest one. That’s no disrespect to the ones for “Guys and Dolls” and “Carousel”, but being the only dame ever nominated for an Olivier is an absolutely massive thing because people look on panto as a lesser form.’

‘I worked my way up through a world of amateur pantos. I started as crew and I ended up as Emperor of China – the first multiracial casting! I learned a lot from Nigel Marland, an amateur dame in Oldham who passed away this year.’

‘I have a weird relationship with Christmas. I’m not really a believer in starting it early, but because of panto I start to think about it, even if only subconsciously, in June. And this week I’ve been running around buying presents because once it starts there’s no way I’ll have time; it’s Christmas right through to January.’

‘I would describe myself as a bloke in a frock. I’m not Lily Savage, I’m not in drag, that’s why it’s funny. A docker could be a dame.’

‘If I ever try and explain pantomime to an American I say “think of ‘Hairspray’”. It has a male playing a female part, you’ve got the villains, you’ve got songs, you’ve got dancing – it’s an American pantomime.’

‘For dames, “Mother Goose” is the “Hamlet” 
of pantos. I couldn’t pass it up. ‘Aladdin’ is about Aladdin, ‘Dick Whittington’ is about Dick, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is about Jack – this is the only one that’s about the dame.’

‘Who knows what will happen next year? Spielberg may give me a call! But I never say never. I‘ve had a break, I’m back, we’ll see how this goes.’

Mother Goose’ is at Hackney Empire, Nov 22 - Jan 4 2015.

Find more festive theatre

Family Christmas shows
  • Theatre
  • Children's

More Christmas theatre Christmas shows in London Our complete round up of family shows, pantos and more this Christmas. Christmas pantomimes in London The TO theatre team give you the rundown on all of this season's London pantos. Alternative Christmas shows in London Love theatre but hate schmaltzy seasonal shows? Here's the theatre to see this Winterval. Make Christmas more magical with a trip to one of London's many family-friendly Christmas shows. There's theatre big and bright enough to keep little ones enthralled and performances sweet and subtle enough to entertain the whole family. Find the one that all of your lot will love and book tickets so you don't miss out. Find more great family theatre After a classier alternative to TV time? Get the kids hooked on culture with a visit to one of these great family-friendly showsSee our guide to children's theatre in London Alice's Adventures in Wonderland When she falls down the rabbit hole, Alice discovers a strange fantasy world, with Cheshire cats and mad march hares. Simon Reade's thrilling adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic features original songs. Ages 6-11. The Ballad of Rudy Get your kids into jazz with this funky show with live music from Gypsy funk jazz band Los Pelos Rizos. Rudy is a penguin who lives in the North Pole but is troubled by the fact he's lacking in the red nose department. When a magical jazz penguin arrives he's taught that his talent for exciting music is much more

Pantomimes
  • Theatre
  • Panto

Christmas in London Discover all the festive activities to be enjoyed in London this Christmas, including markets, Christmas lights, pantomimes and carols. See our guide to Christmas in London More Christmas theatre Family Christmas shows in London More Christmas theatre Christmas shows in London Our complete round up of family shows, pantos and more this Christmas. Christmas pantomimes in London The TO theatre team give you the rundown on all of this season's London pantos. Alternative Christmas shows in London Love theatre but hate schmaltzy seasonal shows? Here's the theatre to see this Winterval. Make Christmas more magical with a trip to one of London's many family-friendly Christmas shows. There's theatre big and bright enough to keep little ones enthralled and performances sweet and subtle enough to entertain the whole family. Find the one that all of your lot will love and book tickets so you don't miss out. Find more great family theatre After a classier alternative to TV time? Get the kids hooked on culture with a visit to one of these great family-friendly showsSee our guide to children's theatre in London Alice's Adventures in Wonderland When she falls down the rabbit hole, Alice discovers a strange fantasy world, with Cheshire cats and mad march hares. Simon Reade's thrilling adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic features original songs. Ages 6-11. The Ballad of Rudy Get your kids into jazz with this

Advertising
Christmas shows for kids
  • Theatre
  • Children's

Help make Christmas even more magical while they're still gullible with a festive theatre show created especially with small people in mind. Christmas in London Discover all the festive activities to be enjoyed in London this Christmas, including markets, Christmas lights, pantomimes and carols. See our guide to Christmas in London Christmas shows for kids (5-8 years) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland When she falls down the rabbit hole, Alice discovers a strange fantasy world, with Cheshire cats and mad march hares. Simon Reade's thrilling adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic features original songs. Ages 6+. Cinderella: A Fairytale Travelling Light and the Bristol Tobacco Factory's fiesty take on the story of Cinderella gave the St James Theatre an enchanting 2012 Christmas show, which was nominated for an Olivier Award. Lisa Kerr was wonderful as Ella, a young girl who takes solace in her woodland bird friends after her father remarries. She's not named in the current publiicty, so presumably a cast change is likely, though the fact she performed here earlier this year in Complicite's 'Lionboy' gives us some hope. Ages 6+. Christmas Claytime Encourage your kids to make up theatre of their own by taking them to this show from Indefinite Articles. Sally Brown and Steve Tiplady perform this Christmas treat which is created with the help of audience members who share their ideas. Ages 7 and under. Dickens Abridged This fast-paced musical comedy sprints through Charles Dicken

Christmas shows for toddlers
  • Theatre
  • Children's

Christmas in London Discover all the festive activities to be enjoyed in London this Christmas, including markets, Christmas lights, pantomimes and carols. See our guide to Christmas in London Turn those squirms of boredom into squeals of delight this Christmas at one of these charming theatre shows for very little ones. More Christmas theatre Christmas shows in London Our complete round up of family shows, pantos and more this Christmas. Christmas pantomimes in London The TO theatre team give you the rundown on all of this season's London pantos. Alternative Christmas shows in London Love theatre but hate schmaltzy seasonal shows? Here's the theatre to see this Winterval. Christmas theatre shows for kids Help make Christmas even more magical while they're still gullible with a festive theatre show. Find more great family theatre After a classier alternative to TV time? Get the kids hooked on culture with a visit to one of these great family-friendly showsSee our guide to children's theatre in London Festive entertainment with maximum fun at these delightful Christmas shows for toddlers Christmas shows for toddlers (0-5 years) The Ballad of Rudy Get your kids into jazz with this funky show with live music from Gypsy funk jazz band Los Pelos Rizos. Rudy is a penguin who lives in the North Pole but is troubled by the fact he's lacking in the red nose department. When a magical jazz penguin arrives he's taught that his talent for exciting music

Recommended

    More on Christmas

      You may also like
      You may also like
      Bestselling Time Out offers
        Advertising