AWARD-WINNING panto dame Paul Morse has signed up to join CBeebies superstar Justin Fletcher for this year’s Hexagon festive show, Aladdin.
The duo have been working together for a number of Christmases in Reading and have formed a very strong double act.
Paul is to make his sixth panto appearance at The Hexagon and will play the mother of Justin’s character, Wishee Washee.
Justin said: “I love playing Wishee Washee because he’s a friend of the audience. It’s so wonderful to have that interaction with families and see them laughing and joining in with the show.
“Paul and I have worked together for quite a few years now and he’s a lovely guy. He is a very generous performer and the longer we work together the stronger the chemistry on stage.”
Paul, who has appeared in five pantomimes at the venue, said: “It’s lovely to come back to The Hexagon as the theatre staff are so welcoming and supportive and the audiences really do come along to join in and kick start their Christmases.
“One of the highlights of playing a dame is always the fabulous costumes and the costume department at Imagine know the more bling the better.”
He added that his partnership with Justin works so well.
“We have great in-sync rhythm and energy and just know what the other one is doing or going to do and the other can go along and support it in the moment,” he said.
“At the end of the day if Justin and I are having fun, the audience can feel that and it’s infectious, before you know it even the most reluctant member of the family is joining in.”
Aladdin, which is produced for Reading Arts by Imagine Theatre, will run from Saturday, December 8 until Sunday, January 6, 2019.
Tickets are already on sale. For more details call the box office on 0118 960 6060 or log on to www.readingarts.com
