Interview by Tei Williams Two things become very apparent when talking to Paul Barnhill who plays Dame Trott in this year’s Oxford Playhouse pantomime; the intensity of the two week rehearsal period and how much he loves it. Some may remember Paul as the evil Abanazar in Aladdin two years ago on the same stage. This year he plays Jack’s mother in Jack and the Beanstalk. 
“There is often some misapprehension that Dame Trott is a drag artist similar to the Ugly Sisters. She’s not. She’s always played by a man who wears dresses who speaks in his usual male voice; it’s nothing more complex than that. She’s the traditional character who everyone loves, in fact she’s the mother of the piece, the person who makes everyone feel relaxed.” I catch up with Paul during a lunch break towards the end of the final week of rehearsals and he’s buzzing. “The costumes are here and they are amazing. The Playhouse has this great relationship with the Arts University of Bournemouth. Its final year students on the BA Hon Costume and Performance Design course design and make our outfits. “We travel down to Bournemouth before panto rehearsals for discussions about our characters, possible costumes and measurements. Then all manner of magic occurs and the costumes appear at rehearsals with the students to do fittings. They are also here during tech week to make any necessary alterations. Sometimes the choreography or a gag is such that a costume needs a slight change and here they are to make it happen.” For someone who spends much of his life in jeans and a t-shirt the appearance of these colourful outfits is a lot of fun. “I have 5 flamboyant costumes from a 3 tier wedding cake to my opening outfit, a gardening dress covered with an array of elaborate flowers. They are design for comedic effect and these certainly will raise a titter or two, maybe even a gasp of envy from the ladies.” 
We talk about rehearsals and Paul is adamant that most people have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. “People think we have a month or more to get it under our belts but pantomimes have a very short rehearsal time of 2 weeks. That’s all the time we have to learn our script, all the songs and the choreography. It’s very hard work particularly when you are putting in a 12 hour day. “When you think that most theatre productions have 4 week rehearsals we have half that time and have the two extra elements. It’s complete madness but I love it. Something special happens in a company when the pressure is on and you all have to muck in together. Humour underpins it all and you cover ground that would normally take month to over and we very quickly become a close unit.” Steve Marmion, the director is gifted especially when it comes to putting companies together. He balances diversity with talent and always puts together a great bunch of people. Of course there is a good reason that panto rehearsals are so short. It’s about money. “The pantomime is the big earner for theatres all over the country. The more profit made the more each theatre can do throughout the year. The longer taken to get the show ready the more cheques have to be written. The show might not be 100% perfect by the time we open but audiences love it when something goes awry, it’s in the spirit of pantomime and, as actors, we love it too.” 
We talk about the performance schedule, two shows a day, often with barely an hour off between, it’s punishing. “It’s something we sign up for and to a large extent it’s exhilarating. The audiences keep you going but it can be exhausting too. Getting ready for that 10am school’s show is often hard work but once you are on stage you remember exactly why you are doing it.” Of course being away from home over the festive season can’t be easy. “My children are used to this acting world. I think I miss them more than they miss me. It’s much easier now with Skype, it’s almost like being in the room with them. And I take the train north at weekend to be with them and they will come and see the Boxing Day show and stay for a few days. “We are not strangers to spending time away connected with work. Ruby, my eldest, played Sophie in Stephen Spielberg’s BFG which was shot in Vancouver, so we upped sticks and moved there for 5 months. I even got a small part in the film and worked with Mark Rylance - one of my favourite actors.” Jack and the Beanstalk will be at Oxford’s Playhouse Friday November 24 to Sunday January 7. For further information, and to click here. Photo credit: Geraint Lewis
