I think my first panto was maybe 40 years ago: Snow White, and the Evil Queen. That’s frightening, isn’t it? Back then you weren’t mic’ed. You had to make sure your voice reached the very back row. These days, it’s a lot easier. That’s especially true for me, because I’ve always played baddies (they’re my favourite roles to play – I’ve never wanted to be a fairy) and that can be so hard on your voice. Baddies always cackle, and it can wreck your throat.
Pantomimes tend to have strong women characters, and I love playing them. In the showbiz world, you can become invisible as you age. There are so many brilliant series that I could name where the husband is 60, while his wife is only 40 years old. It’s very rarely the other way around unless it’s part of the story and she’s a cougar, or they’re saying she’s got a toy boy.
Thankfully, I don’t get offered stereotypical roles – Liz in Corrie had three toy boys! Sadly, as a whole, the industry seems to have decided that the man can be a bit older and have wrinkles and lots of character, but the women must be stick insects: beautiful with faces that don’t move.
Some time ago, I did a play called Thunder Girls about women who had been in a band. It was written way before the Spice Girls or anything like them. Loads of producers wanted it, but one said: “It’s great, but the women should be younger because these are all past their sell-by date.” How scary is that?
I think we’re chipping away at the sexism, but it is still there. So, playing the evil fairy at 66 years old is just brilliant for me. I am a strong woman and Carabosse – my pantomime character – is a strong woman. I love that.
Showbiz in general, though, can be quite la-di-dah, a bit out-of-touch, and I hate that aspect. Red carpets and award ceremonies frighten me to death. I’ve been forced to go to many, but I’ve never enjoyed that side of my career at all.
I have a down-to-earth approach to life. It’s too short not to. In 2010, I struggled badly with severe clinical depression. I had to spend three months in hospital, and even had 12 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
I really worried my short-term memory might never recover from ECT, and that I wouldn’t ever get back to work (at the time I was on Coronation Street). To this day, I sometimes need a bit longer to learn my lines, but I am getting there, and I try to be patient with myself.
There was so much pressure on me during that time of my life to explain what was going on, and I just wasn’t ready. I was too ill to give interviews, so sometimes the press would make things up. I feared stigma too. I wasn’t brave enough.
When I was ready to speak, I was touched by how many others I helped. I took all the journals from my counselling and therapy sessions, all those thoughts and feelings, and published my book. People would thank me and tell me about their own troubles. That was a turning point for me, and I realised I didn’t need to be ashamed. Now I’m an ambassador for mental health charity Mind.
A lot of the time, problems with mental health are the curse of the strong. We tend to be people pleasers: we don’t want to upset anybody, we don’t want to offend anybody, we don’t want to be late for work. We put so much pressure on ourselves.
Joe Tracini, who I’m working with right now, is the same way. I think he should be so proud of what he’s accomplished, but tortured souls like us don’t feel that way.
The magic of pantomime is almost healing for me. The audience interaction, I think, is my favourite part. When I look back, I think that’s why I loved comedy theatre like The Rocky Horror Show. Sometimes your audience knows your script better than you do. Once I walk onto a pantomime stage, and people start booing and hissing, I just get carried away with it all. I adore soaking it in.
I think what I offer on stage, what the audiences give back to me, is a sense of escapism. We all need that – adults and children. All the colours and vibrancy come together and create a proper sense of joy. Our audiences laugh but they will empathise with the main characters too. There is always a healthy dose of slapstick, and an opportunity to shout and cheer. People always feel happier after a show.
The fun and laughter of pantomime is the perfect antidote for the dark and cold weather outside.
This week I have been…
Eating… delicious food at the local country pub. My husband and I moved to Norfolk last year and have fallen completely in love with it. It’s amazing around here. We sold our house in the north, and found a house here, in the Waveney valley. It’s very different from the cobbles of Coronation Street!
Where we live is amazing. We have a pond in our garden and 17 ducks that come and tap on our window to be fed. We spend a fortune on duck food! We have a boat and love exploring the Norfolk Broads. Whatever the weather, it is so idyllic. And we’ve been totally adopted by the locals, especially in our local pub.
Shopping… for Christmas presents! Norwich is a fantastic city for shopping in, with its outdoor market, plus the old Norwich Lanes, which are beautiful and full of independent boutiques and shops. I love to give Christmas presents, even more than receiving them, and with our children and grandchildren I have lots of opportunity.
I’m so giddy when they are opening their presents; I can’t wait to see their faces. Christmas is such a special time for us, we barely sleep the night before with all the excitement! In the morning we have a cup of tea and rip into the presents, I love it!
Laughing… with the whole company at Norwich Theatre. Everyone was really nervous at the beginning. It is like the first day of school, but by the end of week one, we were all sat together in the pub having a little drink as if we were old friends who have known each other for years.
Everybody here is lovely, and it is just great to be doing what we enjoy together. They are amazing, and not only supremely talented, but hilarious as well. We’ve kept each other laughing all through rehearsals. I’m terrible once I get the giggles, and so I’m praying that Joe Tracini doesn’t catch on – he’ll make me giggle on stage, and I won’t be able to stop!
Beverley Callard is starring in Sleeping Beauty, The Fairy’s Tale at Norwich Theatre Royal until 7 January. Tickets are available online, or you can call the box office on 01603 630 000