WEBF Panto Profile: Performer and scenic artist STEVE ARNOTT
Photo credit: Natalia Micic
For our second Panto Profile this year, we spoke to veteran performer – and scenic artist – Steve Arnott, currently appearing as Sheriff of Nottingham at New Wimbledon Theatre’s Robin Hood.
We started by asking him what he looks for in a panto script. “I watch how the character progresses through the script. I look at how he travels through the story. That’s what I I did with this one because it's a new script. The last time I did Robin Hood was in Newcastle 14 years ago and it was a completely different show, different story. And of course, Robin Hood, originally called Babes in the Wood, has now evolved into something else. And who would have thought a speciality act would be topping the bill?” Headliners at Wimbledon this year are dance act Diversity, who play Robin and his followers.
We asked Steve how panto has changed during his career. “Well, I started in an amateur panto group who I still write for, actually. And the lead comic there was a local businessman, and he wrote the scripts along with another guy and they were three hours long. They were long shows. I think the important rule now is to tell the story. Pantomimes always have a moral or should have. And the moral has to be that you should be content with what you've got.”
And what about the audiences? Have they changed? “Yes, they have” Steve replied. “People are harder to please these days, I think. This show is just under two hours with an interval. And I think that's the perfect time because kids' attention span now is so short.”
We asked Steve how he came to have a career in the theatre, particularly pantomime. “I worked in a department store when I left school as I trained as a commercial artist, writing posters and show cards. But the theatre was around the corner and I was there every week, didn't matter what was playing, and during panto season I was there five, six times a week. In those days, the seasons ran into February. And I studied the greats like George Lacey, the Dame. My three heroes, villain wise, were John Gower, Alan Curtis and Robert Marlowe. I watched them from the gods, from the Upper Circle, wherever I could get a seat. It stood me in good stead because the delivery of all three was completely different.”
Steve has seen lots of other changes in panto too. “The advent of television changed everything and not so long ago, of course, we had the invasion of the Australian Soap Opera stars. Now it's turned back into a big West End musical but it works so well here, it really does and we've got an excellent ensemble, they work far harder than any of the principals.”
Steve has enjoyed all the panto’s he’s appeared in, but does have some particular favourites. “Aladdin was always a favourite of mine. And when they relaunched Goldilocks, the Germanic rival circus owner was a nice part to play, very different. Michael Harrison also cast me as the Wicked Queen in Snow White a few years ago.”
We asked Steve what changes he could see coming in the next few years. “I think perhaps you'll see new titles, and bringing speciality acts back into pantomime is a big thing. There's so much out there now. So it's got to evolve again.” Although he recognises that change is inevitable, Steve is also a stickler for the important traditions of pantomime. “Me coming on from stage left is as old as time, as is the Good Fairy coming on from stage right. And I said to our fairy, when I come on, move your wand from your right hand to your left. I said, it's to protect your heart.”
Steve has also spent many years painting scenery – a skill that is in danger of vanishing as so many producers move to printed cloths or even video sets. Steve is impressed by the quality of the printed cloths though. “It's so clean and crisp. But it's not easy to clean up, that's the only problem. When I started, as a 10 year old boy with a master, it was mixing glue, size and powder colour. I started at a theatre in which is no longer there. We had summer season there in the 50s and 60s but it all died away. There were no stage cloths in those days, we painted the boards, and had flats that we laced up. “It was at that little theatre where Michael Harrison joined as a 14 year old boy and now he’s my boss.” And with that comment, it was time for Steve to get back into the Sheriff’s costume for the next show, where he will once again be performing in front of scenery he painted himself.
Robin Hood plays at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 4 January, with tickets available here.