Wirral's Kate takes the White steps into professional theatre with panto role

10:23am Friday 25th September 2009

By Craig Manning

A WIRRAL actress is preparing to take her first steps into professional theatre after landing the lead role in this year’s Floral Pavilion pantomime.

Kate Mellors, from Hoylake, won the lead role in Snow White And The Seven Dwarves - which will be staged at the New Brighton venue from December 19 until January 10 - after entering a Snow Factor-style competition organised by the theatre.

Rehearsals for the Pantoni Pantomimes production start at the beginning of December.

Kate, 18, a former pupil of West Kirby Grammar School for girls who has had several stage roles, told the Globe: "The auditions were advertised in the local papers and so I decided to go for it, but never thought I’d get as far as I did.

"It was really nerve-wracking on the day and there were a lot of good, talented young girls auditioning, so quite a lot of competition.

"After being recalled and getting down to the final two, I got the part. So I am really excited and can’t wait to start rehearsals."

Kate, who has graduated from Liverpool Theatre School, continued: "I've done a lot of amateur panto and played Alice Fitzwarren in a production of Dick Whittington.

"I've been in shows with West Kirby Light Opera Society and Hoylake and West Kirby Theatre Group as a child.

"My friends from those societies have been really supportive and say they will come and see me in the show. I can't wait to get started.

"I'm not nervous, really, more excited. But I think the nerves will kick in as I’m about to go on stage for the opening show.

"I'm currently training to become a professional actress, so getting this role is brilliant.

"Musical theatre is my forte and so that’s the area I’m hoping to go into. I’m also looking to work on cruise ships and stage tours."

Also in the cast are Wirral-based radio presenter Pete Price and actress and comedian Pauline Daniels. Birkenhead-born actor Adam Curtis plays the Royal Tax Collector. Joining them is the Sugar Puffs mascot the Honey Monster as the Lord Chamberlain.

The Prince and the Fairy will be played by members of the band Scooch that represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest and even Ken Dodd will make an appearance, in film, as the Magic Mirror.

Pete Price, who plays Muddles, said: "I’m so excited to be coming back to the Floral. Last year I was in panto at the Liverpool Empire with Cilla Black. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done in my life and a fantastic piece of theatre. I can’t thank the Floral enough for letting me do that.

“I’m so happy to be back at the Floral and working with a strong and happy cast. The emphasis this year is on comedy, without any shadow of a doubt.

“Apparently, we have got all seven dwarves which is great, at a time when people are cutting back because of the credit crunch.

“There was one panto the other year, which had four cardboard dwarves and three real people.”

“The biggest problem, for me, is the dash at the end. When I get off the stage at the end of each show I’ve got to be in my car for 9.40pm and over at the studio in time for my radio show. The police always escort me through to the tunnel to Liverpool. It’s great fun.

"I’ve done five pantos and we closed the old Floral Pavilion building, which was very nostalgic. I also fought in the campaign to get this new theatre built, because I was cross with the negative comments about New Brighton.

"Neptune Developments have done a brilliant job with this theatre. It’s lost none of the atmosphere of the original. You can see the stage from every seat in the auditorium."

Tickets for Snow White & The Seven Dwarves are from the box office on 666 0000 or www.floralpavilion.com.