PANTO season is very nearly upon on us and in Aylesbury festive audiences will see former Eastenders star and all rounder, Anita Dobson, take to the stage as The Wicked Fairy, Carabosse. Aylesbury's Andy Collins is back as Chester the Jester as is Milton Keynes singer, Holly Brewer. Here we chat to the cast.

Anita Dobson is no stranger to panto- she has been doing them for years and it is the second time she will play Carabosse. But don't for one moment think she has become bored of the British tradition.

She said: "When they asked me to do it the first time a few years ago she was one of the few characters I had never played. I had never done Sleeping Beauty and I really wanted to."

She added: "I suppose it gives you the chance to do a bit of everything. It also gives you a lot of chance to play with the audience, which you don't do in normal theatre."

But the 64-year-old said her husband, Queen guitarist Brian May, always gets a bit gloomy when he hears she is doing panto as it means she will be away for Christmas.

Last year Anita didn't do panto though, as she made her début for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Merry Wives of Windsor. She played Mistress Quickly.

It was directed by Phillip Breen. She said: "His take on it made the show a success. I don't think it is one of Shakespeare's best plays. I am a huge fan of Shakespeare and his take on it made it.

"It really was something magical."

He cast Anita after he saw her play Gertrude in a 2005 production of Hamlet but she admits her favourite play is Midsummer Night's Dream.

This year she has also starred in Carnival of Animals in Hammersmith, which said was amazing.

She said: "New work is the life blood for someone like me. I am getting on now- I have done a fair bit of the rounds. It's great to do something different."

And she has also played Celia Morgan in Radio 4's The Archers. She said: "If it makes me light up- I do it. I don't have to work now which is a very privileged position.

"That for me is the stuff of life for an actor. Going from something like Carnival of Animals to panto to doing Hamlet- that is what makes it exciting.

"If I didn't have that I wouldn't be as happy as I am."

And of course she is best know for playing alcoholic landlady, Angie Watts, in EastEnders, which she played from the show's inception in 1985 until 1988.

An episode on Christmas Day in 1986, where Den handed Angie divorce, has viewing audience of 30.15 million which has not been matched by any other soap.

She smiled: "I loved Angie. I absolutely adored playing her. If the crew were right then I would love to play someone like her.

"She was huge within that era. That part within Albert Square. It would be difficult to push her any where.

"She would be an old hag now, because I am."

Which seems a ridiculous thing to say as Anita still has that lovely sparkle about her- she could never be described as an old hag.

And she has nothing but praise for Aylesbury saying: "How pretty is Aylesbury? Whoever does the gardens here- it is so well kept. It really was a pleasure to take the drive this morning."

And joining Anita on stage is Holly Brewer, who starred in Peter Pan last year.

She is playing Sleeping Beauty. This year she has been busy recording an album, as her main goal is to be a successful singer and songwriter.

But for now she is getting excited about panto. She said: "When I think about it I get this warm feeling. It is a totally different Christmas, where you are not at home, but there is a great atmosphere and we are like a family on set."

And Aylesbury's Andy Collins will also be returning to play Chester the Jester. He laughed: "I have done 14 to 15 pantos. I have done most of them but never sleeping beauty. "He is basically the short, fat, comedy buffoon. I seem to get that role quite a lot."

He has two children, Molly, nine and Harry, six. This year Molly is playing one of the villagers on-stage with him, which is says is great.

During the rest of the year Andy is a stand up comedian and the warm up act on lots of TV shows including Alan Carr Chatty Man and Big Brother.

He has been doing TV work for more than 20 years. But he said about panto: "Nothing beats that first night fear- it is one of the best feelings in the world.

"Just watching the reactions of people out in the audience- not just the little people- but the adults too is amazing."

Sleeping Beauty is at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from December 13 to January 5. Tickets range from £10 to £29.50. To book call 0844 8717607 or go to www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

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