Snow White stars take first bite of this year’s panto apple in Clacton – Harwich and Manningtree Standard

THREE panto stars are taking to the stage in Clacton this festive season following a shake-up.

Snow White has already taken her first bite of the apple as the Princes Theatres pantomime got under way on Saturday.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs takes to the stage at the Princes Theatre until January 1. It stars singing sensation Linda Nolan as the Wicked Queen, alongside The Bills Graham Cole as Herbert the Henchman and Britains Got Talent star Graeme Mathews as Wally.

Linda, famed for her part in family girl group The Nolans, which formed in 1974, said this years pantomime in Clacton is set to be a special treat.

I lived in Great Dunmow in 1980 and we came to Clacton in the summer and remember the pier being really good, she said.

Its been great to be here again and weve had a few people coming up and recognising me as being one of the Nolans. We turned on the Christmas Lights in Clacton people have been lovely.

Linda, who toured with Frank Sinatra in 1975, is no stranger to pantomime having performed in 23 since 1984. She adds: Im exited to play the Wicked Queen - shes very jealous, wicked and evil and will stop at nothing to get our own way.

This is Anton Benson Productions first year in Clacton and they are fabulous - theyve got great new people coming in and theyve spared no expense on clothes and sets.

Our man in the mirror is voiced by Russell Grant and theres a fantastic effect at the end of the first half which I wont spoil.

Panto is hard work and you get very involved, but it can be some childrens first trip to the theatre and we want it to be a memorable occasion.

This panto has all that with the goodies and baddies - and our Snow White and Prince Charming are fabulous, as are Graham Cole and Graeme Mathews.

Graham Cole, who starred as PC Tony Stamp in ITVs The Bill for 25 years, has previously appeared in Clacton alongside Gareth Gates in Robin Hood.

Im well ensconced with the Princes Theatre, he said. Its one of the reasons why I said yes to coming back, because it was such a love in.

Then and now, the people of Clacton have been great I just get smiles. Ive never worked in a place where Ive done a selfie every single morning on my way here. Its been absolutely lovely. Im a theatre trained actor and started as a singer and fed comic material to about every comic in the country.

Ive worked with just about everybody - Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Vincent Price - Ive been so lucky.

Snow White is Grahams 37th pantomime and he enjoys going against type and paying a baddie.

To play against type is fun, he said. The baddies are great because the kids just go for it.

This panto is really special and a little bit different - theyve put such a good cast together and I must mention Lisa Hills and her acting school - the local girls and boys are so enthusiastic.

Childrens entertainer Graeme Mathews will be joining a panto for the first time following his success on Britains Got Talent earlier this year. He said: When I was on Britains Got Talent the people of Essex were very supportive.

Im playing wally the comic lead hes a very silly character with lots of audience participation stuff and silliness its lots of fun.

Britains Got Talent was a great experience. The judges were lovely and I had a standing ovation at the London Palladium.

Ive never done pantomime before, but I think Ive got the natural silliness for panto, so Im really looking forward to it.

The panto also stars Jessica Daugirda as Snow White, Charlie Ward as the Prince and Clare Sloane as Trixie the Pixie.

Tickets can be bought online at princestheatre.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01255 686633.

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Snow White stars take first bite of this year's panto apple in Clacton - Harwich and Manningtree Standard