Cinderella Interview

October 18, 2016 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Robinson Crusoe - Brian Conley & Gok Wan Relaxed Performance Interview

What character do you play in Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates?
Brian: This year I’m playing Robinson Crusoe, the most handsome leading man in all the land. I’m the hero of the pantomime and I’ll be fighting against pirates, hunting for buried treasure and falling in love with a beautiful girl named Polly.
Gok: I’m playing the Spirit of the Ocean, I’m basically the one who makes all the magic happen and helps Robinson along the way keeping him safe and out of danger from Black Beard who is the villain of the pantomime, although he’s nice really.

Is this the first relaxed performance you have performed in?
Brian: I’ve worked in panto for years and our producers, Qdos Entertainment, were the first company to introduce Relaxed Performances so this will be my sixth one. I absolutely love them.
Gok: This is going to be my fourth. I’ve done one every year since I started doing panto. This will actually be my second working with Brian and we’re really looking forward to it.
Brian: They’re a lot of fun to do. Obviously pantomime is for everyone but Relaxed Performances are extra special as it allows us to perform to children, young people and their parents and carers in a welcoming and stress-free environment who may not usually come along or feel it’s something they’re able to do.
Gok: All we ask is that everyone enjoys the performance. If that means they would like to step out of the auditorium for a few minutes, to make noise, join in or talk to each other we won’t mind at all.

What is the best relaxed performance you have ever been a part of?
Gok: I think they’re all special, but I think this year’s will be my favourite. We have a fantastic cast and crew who are all really looking forward to it.
Brian: They’re all brilliant and as a company we love the reaction we get from the audience. I found my first Relaxed Performance very moving, it was wonderful to see hundreds of people cheering and applauding and showing them how magic panto and live theatre can be. The feedback we get from parents is incredible; often families have avoided panto as they’ve been worried about other audience members or the comfort of their children, which should never be the case. We want those barriers brought down.

Are you looking forward to performing to a Relaxed Performance audience?
Brian: For us they’re one of our favourite audiences to perform for across the entire run. By the time the Relaxed Performance comes around we’ll have done the show over forty times, so performing to a particularly important audience, often when it’s their first time at the theatre, is very special.
Gok: In other performances we can’t really see the audience as the lights in the theatre are switched off. At the Relaxed Performance we get to see the audiences’ faces as well as hear their reactions which is a nice change for us. There are lots of exciting special effects in the show, so to see the look of surprise when the magic happens is really rewarding.

What changes will you make to Robinson Crusoe for the Relaxed Performance?
Gok: We don’t change that much really; we just make a few adjustments so everyone is comfortable. We keep the lights slightly dimmed in the auditorium and if people want to step out, play with fidget toys or make noise then that is fine with us.
Brian: There are also some special effects and loud noises, but we don’t keep the volume up too loud, and nothing will ever come out into the audience. There are some baddies in the show but it’s only pretend and they won’t come into the audience, everything will just be on stage. At the end of the first half there is a sea monster called the Kraken, and he’s nothing to be afraid of either, and if you don’t want to look you don’t have to. Whatever makes the audience comfortable and happy is the main thing, so everyone should book now!
Gok: We can’t wait, so see you there!

Get your tickets here!