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Nov 2021

Last Updated: 11/11/2021

Community

Harrogate panto director promises comedy and magic

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 11 Nov, 2021

Joyce Branagh, director of this year's Harrogate Theatre pantomime Cinderella, talks to the Stray Ferret about what audiences can expect, her love of the venue and her brother, Kenneth Branagh.

Joyce Branagh, the woman at the helm of this year's production of Cinderella at Harrogate Theatre, hopes her passion for pantomime will shine through this year's performance.

Ms Branagh, the sister of Kenneth Branagh, began directing the panto at the end of the October after the sudden death of former director Phil Lowe. She said since then it's been "lots of late nights" to get the panto to a place she is happy with.

Ms Branagh is no stranger to Harrogate Theatre. She directed a play in the town years ago and sat on the board in recent years. She said she could't say no when David Bown, the theatre chief executive, asked her to take on the director role.

Ms Branagh is working alongside a large theatre crew to put on the most popular show of the theatre's calendar.

With well-known faces such as Tim Stedman returning, it sounds like visitors can expect the kind of panto Harrogate residents have come to love.

Ms Branagh said:

"It's going to be very silly and it's got some lovely music and singers in it. I really hope people can come and forget about all the nonsense that has been happening over the past few years and have a proper laugh, a sing-song and the kids can really shout too!"

Silliness for everyone

After 18 months away from directing, due to the pandemic, she said she felt a bit "rusty" at first. The rest of the cast also felt a little worn down at first, she said, but the silliness of the panto quickly woke them up.

She said finding a job where you pick whether to hit someone over the head with a squeaky hammer of a frying pan is her kind of 9-5!

She said:

"We're putting something together that works for someone who is 4 and 94.

"For me, my love for panto comes from the feeling in the auditorium, especially when young kids walk in for the first time and see the set and the props it's amazing to see their eyes light up."

Oh yes he is! Tim Stedman stars in Harrogate panto as Buttons

Boroughbridge Hightimers return with Cinderella pantomime

Famous brother

Ms Branagh watched her brother Kenneth Branagh's acting career take off from a young age, he's known for his roles in several Shakespeare film adaptations as well as directing Thor and Disney's adaptation of Cinderella.

She said it was watching him on stage and in films that led her to discover her love of theatre and spurred her into acting and directing.

"We weren't a theatre family at all. When we watched Ken's shows my parents would say he was an exception and very lucky. They said it wasn't a great profession to go into but I loved it."

Get ready to boo, hiss, shout and sing this November as the pantomime gets underway from November 26.

If you want to get in the mood ahead of the panto, check out our Panto Stories performed by Tim Stedman.

Thank you for your interest in this story

Harrogate panto director promises comedy and magic

Silliness for everyone

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Famous brother