John Barrowman: misadventures in panto

Show must go on for John Barrowman who returns to panto after fall from horse
Scots TV star John Barrowman has returned to his role in panto Jack and the Beanstalk after recovering from injuries sustained in a stage accident.
Torchwood star John Barrowman has been hurt after falling from a horse during a performance of a panto in Glasgow.

The Krankies and John Barrowman in Jack And The Beanstalk

Television star John Barrowman has recovered from a fall on stage to continue his pantomime performance.

Barrowman was performing in a matinee of Jack and the Beanstalk in Glasgow when he was hurt while riding a horse.
The Torchwood actor was taken to hospital as a precaution but felt better after resting overnight, a spokeswoman for the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre venue said.
"After a good night's sleep, he felt able to carry on," the spokeswoman said.
"He was bruised but recovered and will perform for the rest of the run until it finishes on Sunday. We're all delighted. He's a trouper."
Barrowman has been starring as Jack alongside veteran performers The Krankies in the pantomime since December 15.
It is his third annual outing with the pair in his home city of Glasgow, appearing in Aladdin and Robinson Crusoe in previous years.
Jack and the Beanstalk panto has a history of misfortune. Janette Tough, better known as wee Jimmy Krankie, was taken to hospital after falling from the beanstalk prop at Glasgow's Pavillion Theatre in 2004.
Barrowman said before the pantomime run: "I love coming up and doing panto in Glasgow at Christmas.
"There's a sense of humour up here that is unlike any other in the country and it's the same kind of sense of humour that the three of us have, so it goes over very well."

Source (including photo): Daily Record


John Barrowman injured in Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime horse fall
From yesterday (5 Jan):

Actor John Barrowman has been injured during a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk at a Glasgow theatre.

The Doctor Who and Torchwood star was taken to hospital from the SECC Clyde Auditorium on Friday as a precaution. His injuries were not serious.
Barrowman had fallen off a live horse during the matinee show, which also stars the Krankies.
The Glasgow-born actor returned to the stage for a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's show, Barrowman told BBC Scotland he was "pleased to be back" but was still not feeling 100%.
He added: "I just felt the horse jitter underneath me, then the back end lifted up and then the next thing I knew I was in the air. I landed hard in the middle of the stage.
"I got back on with the show, but the shooting pain just went through my legs and my back. I said to the audience "ladies and gentlemen, I have to stop the show, I need to be checked out".
"Then I went round the back and basically collapsed and I was put in a stretcher and strapped up. It was quite scary."
Barrowman's understudy - his nephew Greg Barrowman - stepped in to finish the show.
Janette Tough, "Wee Jimmy" Krankie, was almost killed in an on-stage accident in the city in 2004.
She suffered a fractured skull after falling from a mechanical beanstalk at the Pavilion Theatre.
Jack and the Beanstalk is due to end its run on Sunday.
Source (including photo): BBC

John Barrowman on his love of panto
Watch the BBC Scotland interview here 

Elaine C Smith: Snow White opens; first review

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs opens in Aberdeen

More than 1,000 people turned out for the opening night of Aberdeen’s Christmas panto.

And the festive favourite – Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs – will leave you with a huge smile, happily chatting about the best bits of a show that is one of the best things you’ll see all year.

The show, starring Elaine C Smith, Alan McHugh and Jordan Young is on at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, throughout December.

Source: Aberdeen Evening Express

Review

Qdos Entertainment’s creative team of director Alex Norton, choreographer Karen Martin and writer Alan McHugh once again take on north-east Scotland’s biggest panto at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen.

In their ninth year, dame Alan McHugh and sidekick Jordan Young have become a panto institution in the Granite City and their local knowledge is evident in their creatively crafted lyrics and trademark wordplay.

Panto stalwart Elaine C Smith returns as the Wicked Queen in her fourth consecutive Aberdeen panto. Her initial entrance is lacklustre, but she soon gets into her stride, despite the mirror failing to live up to its magic billing.
Adding the necessary fairytale magic, Frances Mayli McCann as Snow White sings beautifully and looks every bit the part, working well with Matt Wilman as Prince Peter.
The first act ends on a high as the Doric Dragon voiced by Scottish entertainment legend Robbie Shepherd flies out from the stage across the audience. But this dramatic entrance fails to live up to expectation, as the dragon makes only a brief and rather spurious appearance in the second act.
This panto team has been working together for a number of years and the genre is their core strength, enabling them to gloss over opening-night glitches. Combined with local knowledge and observation, you get a truly wicked panto perfectly tailored for the local audience.
Source: The Stage

John Barrowman

John and Carole Barrowman pen sequel to "Hollow Earth"

"Bone Quill," the sequel to "Hollow Earth," the fantasy/science-fiction novel for young adults written by John Barrowman and his sister, Carole Barrowman, will be published by Buster Books in 2013.

"Lots of twins have a special connection - being able to finish each other's sentences; sensing what the other is thinking; perhaps even knowing when the other is in trouble or in pain - but for 12-year-old twins, Matt and Emily Calder, the connection is beyond special," according to press notes for "Bone Quill." "Together, the twins have extraordinary powers - they are able to bring art to life, or enter paintings at will."

"Bone Quill" is now available for pre-order from Amazon UK.

The Barrowmans also authored "Torchwood: Exodus Code," which was released in the U.K. Sept. 13.

Source:  Playbill


Look out behind you: It's our guide to Scotland's pantos
From the Daily Record:

Who needs the X Factor final when you can boo and hiss at a bunch of people in fancy dress?

The Krankies and John Barrowman launch their pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk

 

Most people love them but even if you loathe them, you can’t miss them at Christmas.
It’s panto season again, with stars such as John Barrowman, Michelle McManus and Elaine C Smith taking to the boards and encouraging us all to sneer and shout at the villains and cheer on the men in tights. All in the name of family entertainment, of course.
Who needs the X Factor final when you can boo and hiss at a bunch of people in fancy dress – making cheesy jokes and poking fun at some of our classic fairytales?
According to last year’s audience figures, we can’t get enough of the fabulous farce that is panto. Ticket sales were up all over the country last year, with thousands of us heading down to our local theatres with our kids.
And it’s to be even better this year – as we look for something to lift us out of the doom and gloom of the recession.
Perth Theatre’s marketing and campaigns manager Hollie Wegner-Jaszkin said: “We’re delighted that, in this harsh economic climate, our bookings for pantomime continue to weather the storm.
“This year’s production of Mother Goose is proving to be no exception and we’re delighted with the strength of our sales at the moment.”
Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre manager, Iain Gordon, said: “The Pavilion panto, The Wizard Of Never Woz, is fun and full of audience participation.
“Although it’s brought up to today’s modern terms with special effects, it retains the great traditions of panto. It also has traditional songs and music for all ages! It’s fun for everybody from five to 95.”
Panto – which dates back to the Middle Ages – is the perfect way of putting a new slant on an old story.
And pantomime cross-dressing can find its roots in Shakespeare as plays were originally performed by men playing women.
Elaine C Smith, who plays the Wicked Queen in Snow White at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, which is already enjoying record ticket sales, said: “I am delighted to be coming back to the Granite City for the fourth year.
“The chance of playing this part was an offer I could not refuse.”
Jane McCarry, who plays Isa Drennan in the Scottish BBC sitcom Still Game, is confirmed to star in Cinderella at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, from December 18 to January 6.
A spokeswoman said: “Jane is a well known face of TV and theatre, so the audience of all ages will recognise her.”
Entertainer and actor John Barrowman and The Krankies ham it up as Jack and the Trots in Jack And The Beanstalk at the SECC, December 15 to January 6, in Glasgow.
John said: “I’m so pleased to be back at the SECC this Christmas. With amazing new 3D sequences, this show will be Glasgow’s biggest panto yet.”

Wherever you go for all that booing and hissing, there’s definitely something for all of us this panto season.
Singing Kettle – Fairytale Christmas – Various venues November 15 to January 5
www.singingkettle.com
Mother Goose
Eden Court Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness IV3 5SA
December 4 to January 6
www.eden-court.co.uk
Sleeping Beauty
Peterhead Community Theatre, Balmoor Terrace, Peterhead AB42 1EP
December 8-15
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Snow White
His Majesty’s Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
December 1 to January 6
www.hmtaberdeen.com
Jack And The Beanstalk
Gardyne Theatre, Gardyne Road, Dundee DD5 1NY
December 4-9
www.gardynetheatre.org.uk
Mother Goose
Perth Theatre, High Street, Perth PH1 5UW
December 7 to January 5
www.horsecross.co.uk
Cinderella
Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling FK9 4LA
November 28 to December 31
www.macrobert.org
Hansel & Gretel
Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7JA
November 30 to December 24
www.onfife.com
Cinderella
Alhambra Theatre, Canmore Street, Dunfermline
KY12 7NX
December 18 to January 6
www.alhambradunfermline.com
Mother Goose
King’s Theatre, Leven Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LQ
December 1 to January 20
www.edtheatres.com/panto
The Wizard Of Never Woz
The Pavilion Theatre, Renfield Street, Glasgow
G2 3AX
November 28 to January 19
www.paviliontheatre.co.uk
Jack And The Beanstalk
Clyde Auditorium, SECC, Glasgow G3 8YW
December 15 to Jaunary 6
www.secc.co.uk
Aladdin
Motherwell Theatre, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB
November 19 to January 5
www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/entertainment
Cinderella
Palace Theatre, Green
Street, Kilmarnock KA1 3BN
November 24 to December 30
www.visiteastayrshire.com
Cinderella
Ayr Gaiety, Carrick Street, Ayr KA7 1NU
December 11 to January 6
www.thegaiety.co.uk
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
DG One, Hood’s Loaning, Dumfries DG1 2HT
December 15-31
www.dgone.co.uk
Source (including photo): Daily Record

Elaine C Smith: panto in Aberdeen

Panto stars reveal surprise guest for Aberdeen show
Robbie Shepherd to star alongside Elaine C Smith at HMT

By Scott Begbie showbiz editor
Published: 16/10/2012

A touch of Christmas magic arrived in Aberdeen today with the official launch of this year’s His Majesty’s pantomime, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

Stars Elaine C Smith and Alan McHugh surprised shoppers at Bon Accord Shopping Centre in Aberdeen by handing out apples and unveiling a special guest star for this year’s show – North-east icon Robbie Shepherd.

While this will be his first appearance in Aberdeen’s HMT panto, the Doric broadcaster and writer has been namechecked every year ... usually on the receiving end of a joke.

Source: Evening Express

Also reported (with video) by STV and BBC Scotland and by Daily Record 

John Barrowman: DragonCon, panto in Glasgow, photos for charity

DragonCon are pleased to add “Captain Jack Harkness,” also known as the amazing John Barrowman, to the guest lineup! More details here
 
John Barrowman News also reported:

Another for US fans! Dragon*Con Atlanta Aug 31 to Sep 3. John Barrowman will be a guest.

Source: Celeb Tweets 

John Barrowman to Star in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at Clyde Auditorium

Following two years of hugely-successful and record-breaking Christmas shows at the Clyde Auditorium, the producers of the SECC’s pantomime, Qdos Entertainment have announced that John Barrowman and The Krankies will return to the venue this Christmas. 

John Barrowman and The Krankies have previously starred in Aladdin and Robinson Crusoe & the Caribbean Pirates and this year will lead the cast in Jack and the Beanstalk which is a change to the advertised title of Robin Hood. John will play the leading role of Jack while The Krankies will play Ian & Jimmy Trot.

The use of 3D special effects in the previous Qdos Entertainment pantomimes at the SECC have been so popular with audiences that Jack and the Beanstalk will feature brand-new and outstanding surprises including a fantastic 3D enchanted forest and journey through the giant’s castle!

Read more at Broadway World 

Signed John Barrowman Photos For Charity
John Barrowman: Torchwood’s champion, all-round entertainer and, it appears keeper of promises.

After meeting a fan at his concert in York last November, Barrowman promised to send the chatty fan some signed photographs to raise money for the Lymphoma Association – a dedicated charity designed to ensure that anyone affected by Lymphatic cancer has access to free relevant, accurate and timely information and emotional support – and he’s kept his word!

The pair of photographs; one of Barrowman himself and another of him and the J4 Dancers – his personal dance troop from his tour who have also signed the picture – are available now on eBay with the auction currently standing at £22.

Lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer diagnosed by clinicians in the UK and is the most common blood cancer overall. Lymphoma is most prevalent in people aged between 33 and over 55 and, year on year, the number of incidences are increasing with no discernible reason why.

So if you want to help an amazing charity and own a great set of autographed Barrowman pictures please don’t hesitate to bid now!
Details here 
Source: Kasterborous

Elaine C Smith to return for Aberdeen pantomime at His Majesty’s Theatre

Scots actress Elaine C Smith will return to His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen to star in this year’s pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Smith has headlined the city theatre’s Christmas show, following last year’s sell-out success Jack and the Beanstalk.

She has also recently appeared in the Granite City in the Susan Boyle musical I Dreamed a Dream.

The Qdos Entertainment show also sees the return of HMT favourites Alan McHugh and Jordan Young.

Qdos managing director and executive producer of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Michael Harrison, said: “We are thrilled that Elaine, Alan and Jordan will be returning to the stage of His Majesty’s in what promises to be another spectacular and sell-out family pantomime.

“Every year more and more people come to see the Aberdeen pantomime which has become one of the most successful shows in Scotland.
“There is a terrific on-stage chemistry between Elaine, Alan and Jordan and I have no doubt that we are in for another spectacular five-week run but in the past many people have been left disappointed as they couldn’t get seats, so book early.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen from Saturday, December 1, to Sunday, January 6, and tickets are available online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com, by phone at 01224 641122 and at Aberdeen Box Office, the Music Hall and His Majesty’s Theatre.
 
Source: STV 

John Barrowman 2011 Glasgow panto return

John Barrowman and The Krankies will join together to entertain the crowds at the SECC again this Christmas, it has been confirmed.

The 2011 panto has been on sale as Sleeping Beauty but this fairytale princess has since been swept away by prince charming after the panto was re-billed to Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates to suit the recently appointed leads.

Former Doctor Who star Barrowman and panto legends The Krankies made their debut as a trio on the SECC stage last year in Aladdin, entertaining thousand of panto-lovers over the cold Christmas period.

John will take on the role of Robinson while The Krankies play Captain Crusoe and Jimmy Crusoe, a combination Qdos Entertainment’s managing director Michael Harrison is delighted with.

“We are thrilled that John and The Krankies are returning to the SECC where they had such a fantastic run in Aladdin last Christmas.

“John’s showmanship together with the hilarious antics of Glasgow panto favourites The Krankies, combined with ground-breaking 3D, means that audiences are in for another spectacular SECC pantomime.”

Ben Goedegebuure, Director of Sales at the SECC added: “Aladdin was the first major pantomime to be staged at the SECC and we were delighted with its success.

“The news that John Barrowman and the Krankies will once again be taking to the stage at the Clyde Auditorium is brilliant.”

Tickets already purchased for Sleeping Beauty will now be valid for Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates. The panto begins on Saturday 17 December 2011 and runs until Saturday 7 January 2012 at the SECC Clyde Auditorium.
Source: STV

More info at John’s official site