Young newshounds from a primary school got Greenwich Theatre’s famous dame to reveal one of the unusual secrets of his success. He goes underground to spy on his audience.
Andrew Pollard, who was also the writer and director of Red Riding Hood - which completed its 76th and final performance on Sunday, January 10 - was interviewed by the news team from Charlton Manor primary school.
After being asked for a backstage secret, Andrew told them: “I go undercover to listen to the audience! Obviously in a pantomime the audience shout out - well, hopefully they do! - but one of my favourite things about pantomime is overhearing people talking about the show when they don't know I'm there.
“I look so different as the dame that when I'm standing next to people on the platform at the station or in the queue at the supermarket after the show. I can hear them talk about the show without them knowing it's me. Finding out what people think in those unguarded moments is invaluable!”
The young reporters were among Year 6 pupils who saw the panto the previous week. Their report will appear in the fifth issue of the school’s news magazine, Manor LIFE! next month.
Andrew told them: “I have been in 10 pantomimes in Greenwich. I picked Red Riding Hood this year because it isn't done very often anymore and the story had a good part for me - the granny! The story is quite short but dramatic so I could weave other elements into the story quite easily.”
His personal favourites? “Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin are my favourites,” he told the children, “because the stories are strong, full of good characters and adventure.
“At Greenwich we seem to be in a great position whereby all our pantomimes seem to be popular! We have never had a bad pantomime! “
The children asked Andrew how he and the cast kept fit during such a demanding run. He said: “Doing two shows a day keeps you fit! There’s no time for any other exercise! We did 76 shows this year, mostly two every day, six days a week! “
The news team always finish their interviews by asking for a favourite quote. Andrew told them: “I've always tried to live by the saying: 'Do as you would be done by' - that is, try to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.”
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