Theatre News

Dame Edna Makes Panto Debut at Wimbledon

| London's West End |

10 May 2011

Australian housewife and comedy icon Dame Edna Everage (aka comedian and drag artist Barry Humphries) will make her pantomime debut at the New Wimbledon Theatre this Christmas. Dame Edna will star as the Saviour of London in the First Family Entertainment production of Dick Whittington which runs from 15 December 2011 (previews from 9 December) to 15 January 2012.

Dame Edna’s theatre credits include Housewife, Superstar, A Night with Dame Edna and several Royal Variety Performances as well as a Broadway show Dame Edna: The Royal Tour which won the 2000 Tony for best special theatrical event. Her television credits include A Night on Mount Edna and The Dame Edna Experience where she conducted celebrity interviews in her own inimitable style.

Appearing in her first pantomime, the
investigative journalist, social anthropologist, talk show host and children’s book illustrator says she is looking forwards to spending five weeks treading the boards in Wimbledon with producers alluding to her possibly flying above them.

Speaking about upcoming role Dame Edna said today: “I am delighted to be making my pantomime debut and starring as the Saviour of London in Dick Whittington. Being a stranger to pantomime I am looking forward to all the fun and frolics and meeting all of you lovely little possums of London, but most of all, the thought of guiding Dick Whittington to become Lord Mayor of London thrills me. I did the exact same thing for Boris Johnson not long ago”.

Kevin Wood, chief executive of First Family Entertainment added: “We are all very excited to be working with Dame Edna Everage this Christmas and once again securing such a big name to star in New Wimbledon Theatre’s pantomime.”

The New Wimbledon pantomime has hosted a number of big-name stars for their recent Christmas productions. Last year’s production of Peter Pan saw American chat show host Jerry Springer and Knight Rider veteran David Hasselhoff in the role of Captain Hook with Pineapple Dance Studio’s Louie Spence as Cabin Boy Roger. The 2009 production of Aladdin saw Pamela Anderson, Paul O’Grady, Ruby Wax and Anita Dobson share the role of the genie alongside Brian Blessed, whilst Happy Days star Henry Winkler appeared in theatre’s 2006 Christmas show.