Not only does CBeebies’ Chris Jarvis star in Richmond’s panto – he wrote and directed it too. Jane McGowan ventures behind the scenes
In theatreland, December can only mean one thing – it’s panto time! ‘Oh no it isn’t…,’ I hear you cry. Oh yes it is and this year the residents of Richmond can once again look forward to a feast of fun-filled family entertainment in the shape of Sleeping Beauty, a pantomime penned, directed and starring CBeebies’ finest, Chris Jarvis.
The actor, singer and dancer was responsible for last year’s smash Cinderella and Jarvis hopes that Sleeping Beauty, in which he plays Chester the Jester, will be just as successful, especially as it has been almost 12 months in the making.
“We’ve been working on it all year to make it right for everyone,” he explains. “We want it to be very topical and very local. But that doesn’t mean just getting all the local references in, it’s about giving the town the right kind of production.
“We want it to be a family show and one that works well in Richmond. Yes, it has got all the seaside postcard sauciness to it but hopefully there are some more sophisticated bits as well.”
Adding to the air of refinement will be award-winning actress Maureen Lipman CBE, who is playing the role of the Wicked Fairy.
“It goes without saying that Maureen adds to the sophistication,” he laughs. “Her character is very funny, but it’s not an obvious panto villain. She will be playing it very differently from how Katie Price played it.”
Better known to children all over the country as Chris from the Show Me Show Me show, Romford-born Jarvis has been performing from a very young age. In fact he made his theatrical debut in amateur panto nearly four decades ago. And after years spent honing his skills in theatre, holiday camps and on local radio, Jarvis got his big break in 1992 when he landed the job of presenter alongside Zoë Ball in the BBC’s Broom Cupboard.
He went on to appear in a string of hit kids’ shows and in 2002 was chosen to front the BBC’s Cbeebies channel – a station dedicated to providing pre-schoolers (and their parents) with entertaining, educational and informative programmes for 12 hours a day.
“When we first started we were in Broadcasting House opposite Radio 4. So you had all these important politicians coming on the Today programme to talk about Saddam Hussein and we were across the corridor singing ‘If you’re happy and you know it’,” he laughs.
Jarvis’ love for what he does is very much in evidence and will no doubt be reflected in the quality of Sleeping Beauty.
“I am passionate about panto,” he says. “And I think it’s never been more important. Panto is one of the last places where people of two or 92 can sit together and laugh at the same thing. It really is family entertainment.”
Sleeping Beauty runs at Richmond Theatre from December 2 to January 8. For tickets visit: atgtickets.com
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