Five minutes with ...
Aidan O’Neill, 42, Stevenage Panto favourite
Have you always loved the theatre?
To be honest. I wasn’t subjected to the theatre as a kid. But when I was 15, I got a phone call from the local am-dram (amateur dramatics) to join the cast of Our Day Out as someone had dropped out. I remember saying ‘Nahhhhh’ but was convinced and it changed my life. I found a whole new outlet and group of like-minded people.
What is it about Panto that keeps you coming back for more?
Everyone always says to me. You must be so tired, but doing Panto is like a holiday for me. The hard work is rehearsals, learning loads of text and songs and helping to develop and come up with extra stuff. But the actual show, although hard work, is amazing to do. Especially now that I’ve developed such a bond with the audience over the years.
Stevenage has a big production, how much do you prepare?
In total we have 12 days of rehearsals. Week one each department - music, acting, dance - split up and work separately. On day six we come together and do a full run with everything together. Week two we add lights, sound and that's it, we open! I don’t really do much prep as I find it best to learn and develop with the director and other actors in rehearsals.
What’s been your favourite character/Panto?
Hmmm that’s tough. As anyone who has come will see, it’s pretty much the same character in a different costume. But …if I had to choose one to do every year it would be Buttons in Cinderella. It’s hard to say why, he’s very bashful, innocent and naive.
Any mishaps or favourite memories?
A common misbelief is that a lot of ‘messing about’ happens in Panto but I stick to the script as much as possible. However, when something out of the ordinary does happen the audience get to be part of something no other audience will ever get to see, it’s unique to us all and that’s pretty magical. When ad lib goes well after a mistake, it’s a type of laughter that is like no other. One of the maddest things to happen was in Aladdin in 2021, a spark landed in a laundry basket on stage and it slowly but eventually caught fire!! I asked two ladies near the basket why they didn’t shout out and they said, ‘we thought it was part of the show’.
What do you do the rest of the year?
I’m an actor so when I’m not acting as Buttons I’m acting in something else. Because of my characterful expressions I do quite a lot television commercials mainly on RTÉ (Irish television). I recently bought a Camper van so taking trips and sleeping on cliffs is my new favourite thing to do.
If you could play any part, what would it be?
I was heavily involved in the new Farther Ted musical (Pope Ted) which was put on hold when Covid came but if or when that comes back it will be really amazing to be part of it.
See Aidan in Sleeping Beauty from November 29 to January 21 at The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage. Follow him @Aidanoneill6
