Frazer Hines: Beans means Hines

Dec 17 2008 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

Frazer Hines relishes his role as Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyceum Theatre. He talks to reporter Will Harris

TELEVISION veteran Frazer Hines reckons being evil isn’t all that bad! The former Emmerdale and Doctor Who actor is putting in a star turn as the villainous Fleshcreep in the Lyceum Theatre panto Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas.

Frazer, 64, says he has landed the role he has always dreamed of and is taking it on with relish.

“I’m a baddie for the first time ever and it’s great,” he says. “I always said if I’m doing the panto I would want to do the baddie’s role.

“When you’re playing the goodies you’ve got to will the boys and girls to like you, but it doesn’t matter with this. It’s much easier and you can slag the audience off.

“And if someone heckles you, you’re given licence to get them back. If a child doesn’t cry, I haven’t done my job!”

Frazer has made a return to South Cheshire which has become familiar surroundings following numerous appearances at the Lyceum in Crewe during a 50-year acting career.

“It’s my first time here in panto, though I’ve been here in comedies and serious plays. It’s a lovely theatre to work in and a good backstage crew.

“The audiences when I’ve been here before like coming to the theatre. Some places you go you wonder what you have to do to get them in the theatre, but people in South Cheshire actually want to come and enjoy a good night out.”

Frazer says the roles of Jamie McCrimmon, Doctor Who’s companion for three years during the 1960s, and Emmerdale’s Joe Sugden for 22 years, continue to follow him in any job he does.

“People say to me ‘don’t you get fed up of being remembered for those things?’ but they’re still two very successful shows.

“Mind you, Doctor Who now has a bit more money to spend than what we worked with, and in Emmerdale we had to get really stuck into what we were doing. If Joe Sugden was milking cows while saying his lines, then that’s what we did. You don’t see them doing anything like that anymore.”

Jack and the Beanstalk has already been running for a fortnight at the Lyceum, and Frazer says there’s a togetherness amongst the cast members, which include Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger, Fame Academy runner-up Carolynne Good and children’s presenter Kerry Newell.

“We’ve got a lovely cast and everyone is very talented. You don’t think ‘oh, they’re not going to be very good at this’,” he adds.

“The script is very good, it’s excellent in fact, and you’re able to add your own bit of personality and you might be able to add something topical in there.

“After panto I’m off to Australia where I have a record company that my nephew and I own, which has got the likes of Bob James and Paul Weller involved.

“I’m looking at the music more now and I’ve got an idea for a musical. The trouble is you’ve got to keep working to pay the bills.”

Jack & The Beanstalk runs at the Lyceum from today (Wednesday) until January 3. Ticket prices range from £10.50 to £17.50, concessions available, and family tickets (four people with a maximum of two adults) are £41, £51 and £55. There are also Schools Supersavers, special rates for cubs, brownies and youth groups, and party rates. Call the box office on 01270 537333 or visit www.lyceumtheatre.net.