Chris Jarvis: "Life is tough for a lot of people so for me this year is all about escapism and joy."
Published: November 23, 2022 | Updated: 24th November 2022
CBeebies star Chris Jarvis is planning to lift spirits this Christmas by putting on the most feel-good panto seen in Poole.
As he began rehearsals this week for Cinderella, Chris, who is appearing in his fourth Christmas show in five years at Lighthouse, said: “Life is tough for a lot of people so for me this year is all about escapism and joy.
“I think this year Christmas needs to sparkle just a little bit more than usual.
“Panto needs to be just that little bit funnier, the music needs to be a bit more joyful, a bit more party, and that’s what we’re going for.
“This could be the most feel-good pantomime we’ll ever put on because it’s funny all the way through and the villains are mischievous rather than evil.
“So, in Cinderella, instead of a villain we’ve got two petty criminals, two kleptomaniac, stupid ugly sisters, who are so ridiculous.
“It’s about being uplifting and imparting good humour, a trip to somewhere ridiculous that isn’t as ridiculous as what we’ve experienced this year in politics or anywhere else.”
Chris, who also directs the show to his own script, said he’s really excited by this year’s production not least because it solves a mystery that has bothered him for years – why is his character Buttons always dressed as a bellboy, yet the story is never set in a hotel?
He said: “It always felt to me that once upon a time Cinderella must have been performed in a hotel, so I asked loads of experts, including Nick Humby who’s a Trustee of the UK Pantomime Association, if they knew and it turns out it was in Norwich and South Hill Park Theatre.
“There are no records of it, no photos or scripts, but it was all I needed so I’ve set our Cinderella in the Hardup Hall Hotel on Olde Poole Quay and for once it makes sense to me that Buttons is dressed as a bellboy!”
As well as daft jokes, an all-killer-no-filler soundtrack, colourful costumes and a winning cast, Chris can’t wait for audiences to see the set.
He said: “It is huge, it’s the biggest set we’ve ever had in that theatre.
“Our designer James Smith found it and, genius that he is, has managed to fit it on the stage.
“Basically, we have four sets with different treads – steps.
“There’s a double staircase in the hotel, the walk down, and the Poole Quay scene, which has treads and a crossroads.
“Hats off to Paul and Josh and our technical team for making all this work, it is a superhuman feat.
“This is my job, but it’s also my hobby and my passion and you always try to better what you did the year before.
“I’m seeing more shows every year, every kind of show, because every year I learn so much more than I did the year before.
“I know enough to know what doesn’t work, but I also need to see what does work, then try to put it all together and be relaxed enough to collaborate properly and to let people play and get the very best out of them.”
As well as Cinderella, Chris has also written and directed this year’s CBeebies Christmas show, Dick Whittington and his Cat (U), which can be seen on the big screen in the Cinema at Lighthouse on December 3 and 11.
Cinderella is on at various times from Thursday December 8 to Saturday December 31 in the Theatre at Lighthouse Poole.
