Our Press Officer Steve Pratt caught up with Rowan Armitt-Brewster who will be playing the role of PC World in our upcoming production of Aladdin.
Who do you play in Aladdin and how do they fit into the plot?
I am playing the role of PC World, the Police Community Support Officer. He tries to prevent Aladdin from wooing Princess Jasmine, and he also finds himself caught up in some of the typical shenanigans at the joke shop. I am also part of the ensemble.
What was the first pantomime you saw and how did you react?
I very faintly remember watching Aladdin funnily enough when I was very young. I remember being terrified when Aladdin got stuck in the cave, but I also remember loving the atmosphere of panto, and the unity of the audience.
Have you appeared in pantomime before?
I have not. This is unexplored territory for me, but I’m prepared and raring to go. Roll on the debut!
If you weren’t playing PC World which other pantomime character would you like to play?
Dame Dolly. Thankfully I’m an understudy so who knows, I may get the chance.
Your last role at York Theatre Royal took you around the world in 80 days(ish) – where do you travel to in Aladdin?
Well, with flying carpets you can travel even faster around the world. In Aladdin we visit Egypt, Iceland (the shop), York itself and most excitingly, Sports Direct.
Which came first in your acting life: comedy, dance or drama?
I’d say comedy, because even as a baby I’d enjoy making people laugh. This is what encouraged my parents to put me forward for performing arts.
What kind of comedy do you like/perform? Any comedy heroes?
Physical comedy is my favourite way of performing, I love to use my body, face and voice to make an audience laugh. My comedy heroes are Rowan Atkinson and Charlie Chaplin. Cliché answers I know, but they simply are the greatest physical comedy storytellers we’ve seen.
You took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer: tell us more.
I performed in “A Brief Case of Crazy”, a show that I have written, directed and produced with Skedaddle Theatre at Edinburgh Fringe. The show is a physical comedy but we also incorporate choreography, mime, object manipulation, clowning and puppetry. This production shines a light on society’s lack of acceptance towards those who are different, and how we all must work harder to welcome people from all walks of life. The festival was a great success and as a result there are many exciting things to come in 2025.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know:..
I have a strange obsession with watching cooking programmes when I eat dinner, Hell’s Kitchen is a personal favourite.
Aladdin is at York Theatre Royal from 03 Dec – 05 Jan.
Find out more information and book your tickets here.
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