The 2000s - Denise Nolan - The Official Website

The Millenium brought fresh challenges to the Pantomine industry as people found new ways of entertaining themselves. The internet and multi channel TV had all made an impact. More worrying was the increase in town centre violence. Parents had made it clear that they didn't feel safe venturing into town and city centres with young children. This was devastating to the wider theatre industry as Pantomime is seen to be children's first venture into theatre. In an attempt to stem the flow of drifting audiences theatres began staging performances during the day. Another innovation was to encourage schools to take entire classes to see the show. This may have helped with audience numbers, but there is always a downside too. Denise says 'If teachers take the kids to the show then parents say; there's no point in us taking them to a show that they have already seen. That is sad, because panto is such a magical experience. In my opinion, it is right that that they share it with family. Perhaps I am being overly nostalgic, but the whole excitement of an evening out with family, perhaps something to eat before the show and then home to bed. It is really Christmassy. On a more basic level, I don't really like matinees because I am not a morning person. What's more, I don't think the voice has had a chance to warm up first thing in the morning either. It's just my opinion, but I like the theatre to be an evening entertainment.

Whilst by the 1990s Denise had become a veteran of the panto scene a new kid on the block, was also emerging. It had been a tradition in Pantomime to give headline roles to people who were not known for their acting, with many sports stars and headline makers taking on roles. If the name was large enough there would be plenty of interest to boost sales. The singing stars would be competent in their own arena and help with the ensemble's vocal. Commedians had been used because of their supreme knowledge of how to work an audience to maximum effect. Australian Soap Opera stars had joined many Pantomimes by the 1990s and had been a welcome addition as they were, after all, actors. This blend would ensure that the big name put 'bums on seats' and the entertainers would do the real work. However, a new breed of household names - Reality Stars - began to join major productions. 'In showbusiness it is pretty normal to lose out on a role, you can accept it when a singer or an actor gets a part you went for, but to lose out to someone who came ninth in Big Brother or was famous for being a bad driver on a programme about driving instructors, that is not easy. I know actors who were virtually guaranteed a part and then dropped. I have worked with people from the Gladiators show and they were as surprised to be on stage as I was to see them there. Some were ok thankfully and some were not. They knew it and they were often terrified at the prospect. I have seen this continue in Panto land where politicians and cleaners get the top billing. It's not being bitter, it's just wanting a show to be as good as it can.

Click on a poster from a year - the pop up window will have full details of the corresponding year's Pantomime.

2000 - NO PANTO THIS YEAR - DENISE IN BLOOD BROTHERS