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In pictures: Newbury loves its Dames oh yes it does!

04:00, 28 October 2024

updated: 15:16, 29 October 2024


The Corn Exchange Dame has been cast for this year’s Dick Whittington - the youngest yet! Big, bold and brash, we just love those divas and Newbury has enjoyed a long line of colourful characters over the years as our gallery below shows. Arts Editor TRISH LEE couldn’t wait to have the first word with this year’s rookie Dame Jolene Malone.

One third of this year’s Corn Exchange panto writing and directing team Adam Brown pictured with Dame Ian McKellen in Mother Goose at Duke of York Theatre last year. The two became friends on the set of The Hobbit when Adam, from Hungerford, was playing the dwarf Ori. ‘The essence of a Dame lies in her ability to connect with the audience, deliver laughs, and create moments of warmth and chaos in equal measure. This year, you’re in for a real treat with Dame Jolene Malone.’
One third of this year’s Corn Exchange panto writing and directing team Adam Brown pictured with Dame Ian McKellen in Mother Goose at Duke of York Theatre last year. The two became friends on the set of The Hobbit when Adam, from Hungerford, was playing the dwarf Ori. ‘The essence of a Dame lies in her ability to connect with the audience, deliver laughs, and create moments of warmth and chaos in equal measure. This year, you’re in for a real treat with Dame Jolene Malone.’

PANTOMIME is a uniquely British festive tradition – and quite bonkers – with its men dressed as women and women masquerading as young men. Vulgar, silly, noisy, funny and outrageous, it involves lots of audience participation and we Brits love it!

Pantomime goes all the way back to the 1500s, springing from Commedia Dell’arte, a traditional Italian theatre form that involved comedy, clowning and audience interaction. The ‘Harlequinade’ spread across Europe and grew in popularity throughout the 17th-19th centuries. It became popular in England and eventually turned into the pantomime we now know.

The Dame emerged from this clowning and comedic background and, as dialogue was introduced into the shows as time went on, became more and more popular and is now the cornerstone of panto.

So, there ain’t nothing like a Dame and we’ve enjoyed many fabulous risqué queens at the Corn Exchange over the years… oh yes we have! All big, bold and brash. Part diva, part stand-up and darlings of the double entendre.

Cinderella company 2021 ©The Other Richard
Cinderella company 2021 ©The Other Richard

Adam Brown, actor/writer/director and one third of the Plested & Brown writing and directing team for Dick Whittington, alongside Clare Plested and Amanda Wilsher, says: “A great pantomime Dame is all about larger-than-life charisma, humour, and a touch of heart.

“She’s a character that commands the stage, usually played by a man, but for me, it’s not about drag in the style of RuPaul – it’s an institution in its own right.

“The Dame is far from glamorous - she’s a motherly figure, deeply affectionate, often on the lookout for love, and always ready with a cheeky innuendo or two.

“The essence of a Dame lies in her ability to connect with the audience, deliver laughs, and create moments of warmth and chaos in equal measure.

“This year, you’re in for a real treat with Dame Jolene Malone.

“Jolene Malone is Dick Whittington’s mum, straight from Newbury, and oh yes, the Newbury folk will know her! Jolene has been a part-time sales assistant at Camp Hopson’s ever since it opened in 1921 (because, let’s face it, a Dame’s got stamina like no one else!). She’s a master perfumer, always ready to spritz the latest scent on the people of Newbury, whether they like it or not!

“This year, our Dame is played by the brilliant Scott Riney. We saw plenty of auditions, but Scott stood out with just the right mix of cheekiness and naughtiness. He’s a real gem, bringing fresh energy to the role as our youngest Dame yet!”

Beauty and the Beast 2023 Graham Mackay-Bruce NWN 46-2923 AF
Beauty and the Beast 2023 Graham Mackay-Bruce                                      NWN 46-2923 AF
Philip Pellew, cover for a week in 2021’s Jack and the Beanstalk
Philip Pellew, cover for a week in 2021’s Jack and the Beanstalk
Ian Mowat as Nanny McBubbles, Aladdin 2010 Ref: 41-0810Q
Ian Mowat as Nanny McBubbles, Aladdin 2010                                                         Ref: 41-0810Q
Justin Brett in Cinderella 2021 Pic: The Other Richard
Justin Brett in Cinderella 2021                                           Pic: The Other Richard
Phillip Elvy Sleeping Beauty in 2019 and Aladdin in 2020
Phillip Elvy Sleeping Beauty in 2019 and Aladdin in 2020
Ugly Sisters in 2016’s Cinderella Ref: 45-1916A
Ugly Sisters in 2016’s Cinderella                                    Ref: 45-1916A
Graham Mackay-Bruce and Jade Johnson 2023 Pic: The Other Richard
Graham Mackay-Bruce and Jade Johnson 2023                         Pic: The Other Richard
Justin Brett was in Cinderella 2021 and Jack & The Beanstalk 2022
Justin Brett was in Cinderella 2021 and Jack & The Beanstalk 2022
Graham Mackay-Bruce Beauty and the Beast 2023 Pic: The Other Richard
Graham Mackay-Bruce Beauty and the Beast 2023                                                                                                           Pic: The Other Richard
Adam Brown and Clare Plested in Beauty the Beast 2007, with dame Mark Slowey (Hiss & Boo)
Adam Brown and Clare Plested in Beauty the Beast 2007, with dame Mark Slowey (Hiss & Boo)

As soon as The Corn Exchange announced its casting for this year’s Dick Whittington, N2 put a few questions to our rookie Dame, a former Disneyland Paris star no less:

This year's Dick Whittington Dame Scott Riney
This year's Dick Whittington Dame Scott Riney

So this is your first time as pantomime Dame?

Professionally, yes.

While I was at college, many moons ago, we performed a couple of pantos in my hometown Weston-super-Mare, and I was cast as the Dame then. However, this will be my first pantomime as a professional performer and I’m so excited to get started.

How did you get into panto?

I was introduced to pantomime, and theatre in general, from a young age. But my first memory of it was when my dad took me to our local working men’s club, and upstairs they had a touring panto company set up for all the kids of the members there.

It was only a small show, but I remember it being one of the funniest afternoons, and something I was in awe of. I immediately fell in love with the concept.

As an adult I have taken trips to lots of different theatres and even worked backstage at my local theatre’s panto in 2022.

Can you introduce us to your character yet?

*Drum roll, please!*

I hope you’re all ready to meet - Dame Jolene Malone!

She’s fun, she’s frisky, and she’s got all the fragrances to suit your husband’s mood.

So what do you think makes a good Dame?

I think no matter the nature of the dame role, whether she is on the hero’s side, or a villain, she has to connect with the audience.

The best thing about panto for me is the call and response with them, and you can tell how much they are into the performance by how loud they can be. That tells the cast that we’re doing a good job, and the dame should be able to master that technique.

The dame should also be funny and a bit naughty for all the right reasons, she has to relate to both the adults and the kids.

And how are you going to play Dame Jolene Malone?

Honestly, until we’re in the rehearsal room and we start playing around with the script, it’s hard to say.

I definitely want her to be steeped in all of the traditional Dame qualities, but I’d also like to find a way to modernise her a little bit too.

On a scale of 1-10 how outrageous do you plan to be?

If I was anything other than a 12/10, I’d be disappointed in myself.

What costumes are you hoping for?

The most hilarious and outrageous ones. The bigger and more colourful the better.

I’m hoping for the most glamorous costume for the finale though, head-to-toe sequins and a grand headpiece would be fabulous.

How many costume changes can we expect?

I reckon about 6 or 7. It’s going to take a small army at the side of the stage to whip them on and off in 30 seconds!

Why is pantomime so special?

Pantomime is incredibly special because nowhere else in the world has panto as a form of theatre, and the way the UK embraces it every year is fantastic.

It’s a style that is so steeped in British humour and tradition, that If you try to explain it to anyone outside of the UK, they just can’t grasp the concept, and that is what makes it unique and special to us.

It’s a brilliant night out for all the family, a way for us to laugh at the year gone by with some clever jokes, while being immersed in an interactive and absolutely bonkers fairytale and having a sing-along during the festive season.

Dick Whittington runs at the Corn Exchange from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, January 5. Visit https://cornexchangenew.com to book

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