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CHRISTMAS THEATRE
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GET THIS CHRIMBO ON
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MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR WITH ONE OF THE MANY PANTOMIMES AND PAGEANTS POPPING UP AROUND CAMBRIDGE THIS FESTIVE SEASON, FROM FOOTLIGHTS TO DICKENSIAN CLASSICS
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WORDS BY MIRIAM BALANESCU
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As Cambridge’s leading lady, Matt Crosby – Cambridge Arts Theatre’s ruling dame for nigh on 17 years – has all sorts of tales up his dress sleeves. “Stephen Hawking would come along every year and programme his computer to join in, which was phenomenal!” cries Matt. “He’d never be there at the start, but he’d always appear when I do my song. You’d see the chair surrounded by an entourage. The people you meet in Cambridge – it’s completely bonkers.” Among those in attendance include Mary Beard (‘she’s my celebrity crush’) and John Major, who, after a less savoury MP sat in the show, approached the cast backstage: “He apologised for the guy being in the audience,” recalls Matt. “We were like, we had no idea but thanks for letting us know. “It’s always the same faces now,” says Matt, who in his spare time tries his hand at carpentry (‘it’s a bit like Daniel Day-Lewis with shoes’). “That’s the reason why I come back to Cambridge every year – because I just love the people. I love the theatre, the vibe of the city. It’s a real family feel.” This year, the crew is setting sail with Dick Whittington and his Cat , partly set aboard a ship and following Dick as he arrives in London on the hunt for fame and fortune. With the full cast yet to be announced, Rolan Bell, who appeared in Morbius and Goodbye Christopher Robin , has been confirmed to star alongside Matt in the role of King Rat.
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“I don’t think Dick Whittington is that well known, but it’s my favourite,” declares Matt. “The slosh scene is a riot.” Taking place up on deck – which rocks back and forth – expect a lot of slipping and sliding. “The injuries that take place: oh my goodness me, the bruising! Oh, it’s wonderful.” A whole comical spectrum will be on show, from pantomime’s
hallmark slapstick, to the obligatory digs at today’s catastrophic politics. “There are certainly enough gags to go round this year, considering Number 10’s been a pantomime for the past three months,” Matt laughs. “Pantomime is about making light of the year.” Back in 2005, Matt had little inkling that he would become Cambridge’s prevailing pantomime dame. From a background in acting, he was nervous performing in front of university students and a stranger to the panto style. “To begin with, I didn’t really get it,” Matt recounts. “I knew I liked it. It would make me chuckle, but I didn’t get it. Talking to people in the audience when you’re stood on stage made me very nervous. It’s you on your own, speaking to strangers – or it was then.” Mentored by panto dame Brad Fitt, Matt eventually found his footing and has never looked back. “I keep hinting that it’d be lovely to get the key to the city, an honorary degree from Cambridge University, or just a parking spot instead of constantly parking in the Grand Arcade,” Matt laughs. That’s not to say nothing has changed. “Pantomime in some ways is a bit cleaner, for the better. It’s not
CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE 1 DEC - 8 JAN
as scathing,” Matt explains. “I always thought that Cambridge was ahead of its time when it came to pantomime. The jokes are very clever. You’ve got a sensitive production team. You still have the naughty jokes, as long as they go over children’s heads!”
© RICHARD HUBERT SMITH
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2022 19
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