Big Personalities Square Off In Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

Snow White at the Epstein
Date: 04/10/2018

Derek Acorah says his first role in a pantomime at the Epstein will give him free rein to “square up to” a cast packed with big personalities and tell them some home truths.

The TV presenter will play The Mirror in a pre-recorded spot or video projection in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, the Epstein Theatre’s Christmas pantomime.

Acorah added that he has always wanted to join a pantomime but had come to believe he would never be asked. And he had a word of warning about how his character will treat some of the other participants.

“I have to tell a few home truths to a person or persons who needs to be told. Some characters the mirror is going to have a right old word to say about.”

“My role is to tell them ‘You’re not the top dollar, you’re not the prettiest, actually you’re probably the ugliest!'”.

“You know you are in Liverpool when I have people saying, ‘Can I have a selfie girl?'”

Chief among the antagonists will be straight-talking celebrity cleaner Kim Woodburn, fresh from a spat on Loose Women that gathered press attention for all the wrong reasons.

Woodburn will play the Wicked Witch alongside Radio City 2’s Claire Simmo as the fairy, Britain’s Got Talent contestant Lewis Pryor, local talent Mia Malloy as Snow White and the king of Liverpool panto Michael Chapman as the family cook.

But the panto won’t be the first brush Woodburn has had with Liverpool. The How Clean Is Your House? star she lived on Bagot Street on Wavertree in the 1960s, while pursuing a modelling career with Littlewoods.

Woodburn remembered her time in the city fondly: “When I walk down the street people will ask for a selfie but you know you are in Liverpool when I have people saying, “Can I have a selfie girl? You’re better looking off the telly than on aren’t ya?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt the humour is here isn’t it?

Kim Woodburn as the Wicked Witch

Radio City 2 presenter Claire Simmo has hailed the show as a local affair with this being her 16th pantomime with LHK productions. After attending Elliott Clarke Drama College, Claire has always had a passion for acting.

“After being in Peter Pan last year and Jack And The Beanstalk this year, it’s just so great to be back.”

Woodburn described how she felt ‘utterly privileged’ to play the Wicked Witch at a Liverpool theatre, describing the Epstein as small and intimate. But maintains she will make the role very much her own.

“I hope I can make everyone laugh… or cry.”

• Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs will commence at The Epstein theatre over 23 dates this Christmas.

 

Written by Tilly Marsh