Chester teacher has stage alter ego as dame in Dick Whittington

Jan 14 2010 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

A CHESTER teacher is treading the boards in Liverpool this month as alter ego Dame Dotty Doolittle.

Francis Tucker, who teaches the drums at Merton House independent primary school in Abbotts Park, has a leading role in the Everyman Theatre’s rock’n’roll panto Dick Whittington.

Francis, 39, has had a role in the theatre’s Christmas show every year for the past 10 years and played the dame for the past five years.

“It’s great,” said Francis. “The kids I teach come and see me in the show.”

Francis also stars in the film 15 minutes That Shook the World, the 2009 comedy parody of what happened in the Liverpool dressing room during halftime of the 2005 UEFA Champions League final.

“I play a gay Turk,” laughed Francis, who is enjoying any days off panto, filming and teaching and looking after his son, nine-month-old Ned.

Francis, who is married to Lisa Rostron, a graphic designer from Chester, also appeared in Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels at the Royal Court in Liverpool.

Dick Whittington is on at the Liverpool Everyman until Saturday, January 23.