There are plenty of sizable personalities in evidence at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre over Christmas - as is normal during panto season - but this year look out for a bigger-than-usual presence on stage. Fresh from the BBC’s revival of hit 1990s TV series Gladiators, Jamie Christian-Johal - better known as Giant - is making his pantomime debut. What’s On spoke to the colossal character to find out more...

Pantomime and Gladiators might seem an unlikely pairing, but for the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, it’s a match made in heaven. This year’s production of Beauty And The Beast features Giant, one of the stars of the family-favourite TV show. Also known as Jamie Christian-Johal, Giant certainly lives up to his name. Standing at an impressive six feet and five inches tall, he will be making his pantomime debut at the Grand Theatre.

“I’m very excited - slightly nervous, but more excited,” he tells What’s On. “My first memory of panto, going on a trip as a school kid, was throwing sponges at the stage. I don’t know whether there are any sponges in this one, but I’d provide a nice target for the kids…”

The BBC’s revival of Gladiators, the first series of which ran from 1992 to 2000 on ITV, hit television screens in January this year. Proving an instant ratings success, the second series has already been filmed - and within a year ‘Giant’ has become a household name.

“What surprised me most is how switched-on kids are with their facial recognition software. They will notice me instantly, whereas you’ll see the parents looking and going ‘Is it…?’ and looking at their phone. Kids, for whatever reason, just say ‘It’s Giant!’ straight away.”

Part of the revival’s success might be down to the young people who loved the original show in the 90s passing on their passion to their own children. Finding fame practically overnight might be proving a whirlwind experience, but Giant is delighted to be continuing that tradition of family entertainment.

“It’s been great, because the show’s been so well received. To have put something out there, and for it to be received like it has been, and to stick with my morals and ethos around fitness and health for the family, and getting the family together on the sofa on a Saturday night watching TV, which is something that I did when I was a kid... What could I not like? It’s been amazing!”

Making the leap to another family tradition, Giant has now been fully inducted into the world of pantomime. He’s also seriously impressed with the Wolverhampton Grand, a venue which is very different from Utilita Arena Sheffield, where Gladiators is filmed.

“The theatre just looks gorgeous; it’s so traditional. I think it’s going to feel like home for seven weeks.”

All of the Gladiators are used to playing to huge crowds - normally while wielding a pugil stick or tackling a contender to the ground - but it will be quite a change to tread the boards in front of a theatre audience. That said, it’s not the first time Giant has stepped out into the theatrical limelight - although the circumstances were very different on the previous occasions...

“I have been on stage before - I used to be a bodybuilder. I used to wear tiny pants with fake tan and oil! So there are some similarities - but at the same time, it’s very different. I’m wearing more clothes this time - which might be to some people’s disappointment!”

It’s hard to believe anyone could be disappointed to see Giant’s character, Gladus, clad in a shiny, iridescent version of a Roman gladiator’s outfit. Of course, he’s still got plenty of muscle on display - if any panto-going bodybuilders happened to be wondering! 

To maintain his impressive physique takes a huge amount of time, dedication and hard work. With two panto performances every day - not to mention the rehearsal period - how will Giant stay on top of his fitness routine?

“I’m going to have to work it into the panto schedule, which is pretty hectic. It will involve waking up early, probably at about half five or six, getting a coffee and some breakfast, and then hitting the gym. I find if I start my day like that, I’m mentally and physically ready to take on anything. So that’s what I’ll be doing every day before the panto. Early starts and late finishes - but if I stick to that routine, I’ll just feel better for it.”

This year, the Grand’s panto cast features  a host of musical theatre performers, including original SIX Queen Jarnéia Richard-Noel and erstwhile star of Waitress, Olivia Mitchell (as Belle). Wolverhampton panto legends Tam Ryan and Ian Adams also make their return, having written the script - for a second year running - that includes a part tailor-made for a Gladiator. 

There are plenty of experiences to enjoy when taking on the mantle of a pantomime performer, but Giant is most excited about the prospect of meeting and working with new people. 

“I’m 39 years old - I think for most people at 39, their friends and family situation is set, their work-life balance is set, and that will perhaps be the future for them as well. The fact that I’m 39 and get to meet all sorts of different people from different fields - experts in their own right - is just fantastic. I feel like I’m living parts of life that I’d perhaps missed out on in the past.”

And finally... Giant and his wife, Katie, have two children, who will doubtless be in the audience to witness his panto debut. Are they looking forward to the show?

“Yeah, of course! They want to come and laugh at Dad! They’re older - one’s 15, one’s 18 - but they will still definitely not want to miss this!”

Feature by Jessica Clixby

Beauty And The Beast runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Sunday 5 January

on Wed, 27 Nov 2024

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s spectacular pantomime returns this year, with a Giant presence on stage - not to mention a Beast! Beauty And The Beast makes its Christmas debut at the theatre, with a brand-new script from funnymen (and panto regulars) Ian Adams and Tam Ryan. The panto stars a host of musical theatre royalty, including Olivia Mitchell as Belle, Jarnéia Richard-Noel as the Fairy, Tom Lowe as the Beast, and Tim Lucas as Monsieur Le Pratt. There’s also a significantly large presence on stage in the form of Gladiators’ Giant, making his theatrical debut.

We spoke to Olivia, Jarnéia, Tam and Ian, to learn more about this Beauty of a Panto...

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You’ve been collaborating for quite some time, writing the script for this year. What stage are you at with the script now?

Ian: I think it's done now, until the read-through.

Tam: Signed off!

Ian: There comes a point when you have to stop tinkering…

Tam: I'm terrible for that!

Ian: We stopped tinkering last week, didn't we?

Tam: Although I did tinker a bit on the train - I’m just changing adjectives now. I’m at that stage, where I’m going ‘Stop it! The editing process will never end!’ But obviously when it comes to rehearsals, there’s things that you only know when it’s on its feet in the room… It’s been fluid as far as I’m concerned. 

Ian: We started the year doing a podcast saying we didn’t know what we were going to do with Beauty And The Beast. We’ve never seen it, we’ve never been in one, and it was all a bit daunting. I think you came up with the first idea, the opening number. We’ve got a funny relationship with music. I’ll suggest something, and if Tam doesn’t like it, he’ll say ‘Ooh, it’s a bit plinky-plonky’...

Tam: I do say plinky plonky! It’s an under-used term. 

Ian: …I always say ‘Trust me’ - unless I think he’s right. Generally, his wife comes up with an idea, and we go with that. He came up with that song, and then it just happened. And then we were told that we’d got Giant, so that was the first catalyst, because he’s going to have to play the baddie - but that baddie’s the Beast, so now we have to invent another baddie.

Tam: It’s interesting, because the casting can somewhat dictate the writing. We’re in a very privileged position here, where everything is very joined… The thinking at the Grand is a bit more joined up, which hopefully makes for a better end product, because you can write it to the casting. Each department should complement the other. 

Ian: The thing you’ve got to remember about the Grand is that you’ve got so many creative people, right from the top. Everybody is creative in their own department. Last year was bespoke to Wolverhampton; it was very much about Wolverhampton - it was set in Dudley Castle, wasn’t it? This year it’s in France, but it’s written with the Grand in mind. Hopefully we know what the audience go with now. It’s almost like a panto-musical now. We could call it a 'pusical'! Or a 'manto'!

Tam: Pusical! It sounds like a terrible disease, doesn’t it…

 

You’ve created a character for Giant. Can you tell us a bit about Gladius?

Ian: A Gladius is a small sword that a gladiator would have had back in the day - I’ve done my research!

Tam: Very good, Ian. Doesn’t it make us look intelligent! It lends itself with his brand, what he’s bringing and where he’s come from. Again, it’s all that joined-up thinking. Beauty And The Beast, when I’ve seen it, I’ve thought it’s a great story and a great play - but it’s sometimes lacking that bit of panto; the definition of ‘this is good, this is bad’ that particularly kids - who it’s really all about - can cling on to. The boundaries within the narrative are very blurred: Is the Beast bad? He was bad, and now he’s good, and he ends up good. The Disney Gaston character is a bit bad, but then he’s got a soft edge… So, without giving too much away, we’ve given it an overview, and think we’ve been faithful to the actual story that everyone will recognise. 

Ian: It all comes down to Good versus Evil, and Good always wins.

Tam: Oh, we’ve given the ending away!

 

There are lots of different types of performances during the run - from school shows, right into the festive period. Do you have a favourite kind of show?

Ian: I think probably the relaxed performances. 

Tam: They are very rewarding - it’s a different experience. Part of the joy of being a performer is that you get those different dynamics from the audience. The school shows are absolutely chaotic, and you know certain things that would land at night from a comedic point of view aren’t going to fly in the afternoon. You adapt, you make it work. Ian’s right, the relaxed performances are so rewarding… 

Ian: I love it because the lights are at something like three-quarters, so you can see every single person, whereas normally I can’t see beyond the third row at night. Also, when someone comes on to do the signing - I just think it’s incredible, the way she keeps up with what’s going on! If we change things (which of course we never do!), she follows it. There’s something quite magical about that.

Tam: Panto should be accessible; theatre should be accessible to everyone. Wolverhampton particularly has got a real emphasis on that, and they work really hard. I’ve got to say, though, that during the run-up to Christmas, there’s a real magic in the air - particularly the evening shows. For me as the comedian, that’s when you can really feel - if you do it right - the energy from the audience. That really helps you as a performer, and then the whole thing just works. 

 

What are you looking forward to about being on stage together again?

Ian: Do you know what, there’s some new stuff this year. There’s probably about three scenes that I’m really looking forward to, and they’re all with Tam, obviously. I quite like doing new stuff!

Tam: Working with Ian, I think we’ve got a really good rapport, which actually keeps getting better. We’ve got an innate sense of each other’s timing. You don’t always get that, and I think when it happens, you’ve got to really preserve it and exercise it. I think he knows when I’m going to run off with the ball, and I can see something in his eyes, and he doesn’t have to signal to me; he doesn’t have to give me a pinch. We get each other. 

Ian: It’s interesting with it being the second panto we’ve written - the first one we were feeling our way through it. Now, when I’m writing, I write something because I know that’s what he would say! 

 

Olivia Mitchell & Jarnéia Richard-Noel - You’ve been trying on your costumes. What do you think?

Jarnéia: They're glorious - I'm literally a whole sparkly queen! 

Olivia: They're beautiful - Belle’s dresses are stunning. 

 

What's your experience of panto?

Jarnéia: I've done a few pantos before, and I also actually watched the Grand’s panto last year because my friend Gyasi was starring in it - he played the prince. What a spectacle it was! It was the most amazing panto I've ever seen. Now, here I am involved myself a year later! I feel very lucky.

Olivia: I've done a couple of pantos before, but never been involved with Wolverhampton. I'm really feeling lucky to be here. We've got such a killer cast - we're just excited to get started!

 

Have you ever performed at the Grand before?

Olivia: I performed here two years ago while I was on tour with Waitress. It's one of those theatres that sticks with you - it's so beautiful. 

Jarnéia: I was lucky enough to perform here this year in the UK tour of Madagascar, so it will be my second time actually performing here - but for a longer time on this occasion, which will be nice.

 

This year you're both playing goodies. Are you happy about that, or do you dream of playing the baddie?

Olivia: Absolutely!

Jarnéia: Absolutely - I  always end up playing the goodie!

Olivia: And it’s so opposite to your character! 

Jarnéia:Ha! The baddies always get an iconic song. This year there are some fantastic songs in the panto.

 

How do you prepare before stepping out on the stage?

Olivia: Always a good vocal warm-up. I like having three drinks on the go - water, a warm drink, and a vitamin drink or something - and then, especially because it’s panto season, steaming… Then just good vibes! You've got to get in high spirits before you step out and do shows like Beauty.

Jarnéia: Mainly I just like to put the music on. I like a good vibe - whatever I'm feeling that particular day, you could change, different genres… It doesn't really matter, as long as it's a good vibe in the dressing room, you’re good to go!

 

What's your favourite fairytale?

Olivia: Beauty And The Beast is mine. It was the first show I ever watched! Also, during drama school, we were meant to do a swing project with Beauty And The Beast, but Covid happened - I was meant to play Belle, so I feel like I'm getting my due justice, and getting to do it again. I love it!

Jarnéia: I’ve always loved Beauty And The Beast, and I love the remake of the film as well - I think that's absolutely iconic. To do it as panto will be glorious! I’ve always loved Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, too - I just think it’s great!

 

What are you looking forward to most about the run?

Olivia: Honestly, I know I've already said it, but I just absolutely love everyone! I'm so excited to get into a groove with this cast. It's just gonna be sick!

Jarnéia: I think we'll have such a great time. I'm looking forward to learning the show, putting it up and doing it with everyone. We're just going to have a great time doing it.

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Beauty And The Beast shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 5 January

on Thu, 24 Oct 2024