Gok Wan and Brian Conley star in Mayflower panto
Mayflower Theatre has announced that comedian, television presenter and musical theatre star Brian Conley will return to the Southampton panto stage this Christmas as Buttons in Cinderella. He will be joined by fashion expert, award-winning TV presenter, author and all-round national treasure Gok Wan as The Fairy Gokmother.
Brian Conley’s return to the Mayflower stage follows the huge success of Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates last year, which saw Conley flying over the heads of audiences in a magical car!
In a career spanning three decades Brian Conley has appeared in award-winning West End musicals and television sit-coms, presented his own chat shows, recorded three albums and completed numerous sell-out tours of the UK.
On stage Brian has starred as Edna Turnblad in the hit West End musical Hairspray both in London and on tour and has completed a nationwide tour of Brother Love, celebrating the music of Neil Diamond, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood. Brian also starred in the nationwide tour of Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver playing Fagin and has starred in Jolson and Me and My Girl.
Cinderella is played by Lauren Hall, who has toured the country playing the role.
Later this year, before appearing in pantomime, Brian will tour the UK in his own show The Real Life of Brian Conley before taking on the role of P T Barnum in the UK Tour of the Cameron Mackintosh and Michael Harrison production of Barnum.
Gok Wan will play The Fairy Gokmother, offering helpful style tips to The Ugly Sisters and creating the most magical ball gown in panto-land. Gok’s performance in Mayflower Theatre’s pantomime will be his second pantomime for producer Qdos Entertainment, his debut last year being the subject of the Channel 4 documentary Gok Does Panto.
Gok’s TV career started with the overwhelming success of his Channel 4 series, How To Look Good Naked and through his expertise as a fashion stylist and the shows phenomenal success he became an ‘institution for women wanting to find their own unique style and confidence’.
Cinderella is staged by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the company behind last year’s Mayflower Theatre panto.
Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division said “Brian Conley is absolutely the king of pantomime and I am delighted that he will be joining us in Southampton for a second year. With the sensational Gok Wan also confirmed for the show, this year’s Mayflower Theatre pantomime is lining up to be one of the most spectacular productions we’ve staged yet.”
Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Chief Executive, “I am thrilled that Brian Conley and Gok Wan are to star in our fantastic family pantomime this year. Brian is truly a great all-round star, and for those who discovered him for the first time last year as Robinson Crusoe will be crying with laughter at his take on Buttons. Gok Wan makes his second panto appearance in a role that suits him down to the ground."
Double trouble in rehearsals as The Fairy 'Gokmother' and Buttons get into the panto mood.