BASIL BRUSH is looking forward to Christmas – he’s spending it, once again, in Windsor.
The ageless television star is one of several big names starring in the Theatre Royal’s festive pantomime, Aladdin.
And the jelly baby-loving fox can’t wait to appear.
He told The Wokingham Paper: “This is my favourite place for Christmas. I’ve got to say I’ve done over 25 pantomimes, and the last six of them have been here at the Theatre Royal Windsor. And in fact, six years ago, I started with Aladdin – here I am again doing yet another Aladdin.
“This is the most marvellous place to do pantomime. It’s a beautiful theatre and we are opposite the castle. And this is the most magical place to be at Christmas.”
And famous star couldn’t resist adding his catchphrase in: “Get yourselves down for a booming marvellous time. Boom, boom!”
He is being joined by Marti Webb, who is also returning.
“It’s wonderful to be back again,” she said. “Last year was such a joy. It’s a beautiful theatre and the audiences are amazing. I’m thrilled.”
And the singer loves pantomime. “It’s not like anything else you’re allowed to do,” she explained. “It’s mainly for children, you see their little faces and hear. You can never fool a child – never. I mean, you can fool a grown-up, but you can’t fool children, it has to be true. That’s the great thing about panto – they’re always the truth and they’re fun, they’re great fun.”
She is looking forward to the run, which launches on Friday, November 29.
“It’s a lovely cast and it’s lovely to be working with them again. Stephen [Blakely, who plays the dame] writes the script, so it will be wonderful.”
This is Stephen’s 11th year at the Theatre Royal Windsor, and he says it’s exciting.
“We were taking a slightly new approach with a lot of things as well this year. So, it all feels very exciting and quite new as well,” he says. “Hopefully that will filter on to what we do on stage as well.
“We’ve been working really hard on the panto for most of the year, I think we’re ahead of the game and hopefully that will show when we get to town.
“We’ve got a brilliant cast, it couldn’t be better. Everybody’s very nice and very talented. It will come together nicely.”
Aladdin is at the Theatre Royal Windsor from November 29 until January 12. Tickets cost from £17. For more details or to book, log on to theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk or call the box office on 01753 853 888.
