Joe Pasquale is starring in this years panto at Swansea Grand Theatre
- ontargetmedia8
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
Swansea Grand Theatre is ready to shine brighter than ever as panto legend Joe Pasquale swoops back into town for a glittering new production of Aladdin that’s sure to wow audiences this Christmas.
Leading the laughs is national treasure Joe Pasquale, who returns to Swansea Grand Theatre in the comedy role of ‘Franky Manky’ Aladdin’s brother, and he’s also directing the show!
Joe talks comedy chaos, festive fun and why this year’s show promises wall-to-wall laughter and lots of Christmas magic.
Joe, welcome back to Swansea! it’s been some time, but this isn’t your first panto appearance here is it?
Not at all! This is my first panto in Swansea for a while, I did a few back in the day, including three years on the trot about 35 years ago I reckon so my early panto days were spent right here with Rod Hull and Emu. Since then, I’ve been back loads of times with stand-up and plays, but this is the first time I’ve been back in panto.
And this year we will see you on stage with Swansea’s favourite dame Kev Johns, have you worked together before?
Not in panto, no, but we did some variety shows together, again about 30 years ago when I was down here. So, it’s a bit of a reunion really. And this is my first year working with Imagine Theatre too, so it’s all very exciting.
What are you most looking forward to with this production of Aladdin?
Well, I think this might just be my 40th panto (though we’ll have to double-check the maths on that as they all roll into one!) I’ve done Aladdin many times before. It’s one of the greats. I’ve been directing panto for about 12 years too and will do again this year, so I get to help shape the whole show. Which I love. That’s a real privilege.
How do you approach the role of director and performer at the same time?
It’s all about pacing. Panto is full-on up to 12 shows a week or more and sometimes three in a day! So I always remind the cast on day one - don’t start at 100 miles an hour to be running at 50 miles an hour two weeks in. Audiences are paying the same price for a ticket on the last day as they are on the first, so we’ve got to give them the best show every single time. You’ve got to know how much energy you can give and how to sustain it across 70 or more performances. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. As director, I’ve got to set that tone and as a performer, I’ve got to stick to it too!
So you love directing just as much as performing?
Absolutely. I love the freedom of it. You get the script a month beforehand, and then you’ve got just two weeks to put on what is basically a full-scale musical. I love the pressure. The buck stops with me, and I love that. Once it’s on its feet, we can fine-tune things. And because I’m on stage, I can feel the rhythm of the show if something needs tweaking, I can adjust as we go along and often do. It keeps everything fresh.
What is it that keeps you coming back to panto year after year?
For me, it’s about mayhem and controlled chaos! That’s what the comic is there to do, create and control the madness. I was taught early on that the comic’s job is to push the fun as far as it can go without losing the plot. Not every actor likes that kind of unpredictability, but I do.
No two shows are ever the same. I love improvisation, it’s what I’ve done all my life as a stand-up. You bounce off the audience. Some nights it’s one crowd, the next night it’s totally different. The joy is in that interaction.
So the show changes from night to night?
Of course! The story’s the same, but my performance isn’t. Come another night and you’ll see different stuff. That’s the fun of it. And especially for the kids panto might be their very first experience of live theatre. These days, kids have their heads in screens all the time, so when they’re encouraged to shout back, cheer, boo it’s fantastic! I always tell the teachers, let them express themselves! That’s what panto is for.
It’s a team effort. Of course we rehearse, but the last and most important member of the cast is the audience. They complete the show. It’s like a two-hour tennis match, you talk to them they talk back, they give you energy, and you give it back.
What makes Aladdin such a great panto story?
I think the story of Aladdin always evolves and we’ve brought this version right up to date, but while panto is always changing, we still keep those brilliant old traditions alive. For me, in the comic role it’s less about the storyline and more about the characters. Whether I’m playing Buttons, Smee or Franky Manky, it’s the same kind of cheeky, lovable chaos. I might just be wearing a different costume, but the role of the comic is always to shake things up. The rest of the cast drives the plot forward and tells the ‘story’ and, as the comic, I just come in and make everything fall apart! That’s the joy of it.
What are you looking forward to most about being in Swansea again?
There’s a chicken shop on the corner near the theatre, I think it’s called Chick King? If it’s still there, I’ll be very happy. And New Year’s Eve in Swansea is always a blast.
Also just being back in the Grand Theatre again, it’s a beautiful venue, the real article. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and it’s an amazing room for comedy too you feel so close to the audience. I love it.
And finally, why should families come and see Aladdin at Swansea Grand this Christmas?
Because for two hours, you’ll be completely free of worry. That’s what the show is all about. Leave the bad stuff at the door and just enjoy it. Pure laughter, pure joy that’s what panto gives you. Come along, join the chaos, and have the best time.
Aladdin runs this festive season at Swansea Grand Theatre, starring Joe Pasquale as Franky Manky. With laugh-out-loud comedy, spectacular sets and a sprinkle of genie magic, it’s the perfect Christmas treat for the whole family. Don’t miss it!
