Jason Gardiner talks about playing panto villain in Aladdin in Llandudno

Dec 8 2011 Chester Chronicle

Seemingly immune to hissing, scoffing and jeering, outspoken Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner loves to play a panto baddie.

Jason, who makes his panto debut in Llandudno this Christmas in the role of scheming Abanazar in Aladdin, reckons he will revel in being shouted down by scores of children in the audience..

After all, he’s used to giving his frank opinions on the TV and getting a chorus of disapproval from the audience for being so harsh.

But he proudly said: “I’m the nation’s favourite villain on TV because of Dancing on Ice. I get all the boos and I love it. If it was real, if I felt I was seriously offending the nation, that would be different, but day to day when I meet the public everybody comes up to me and you can tell people get it. People love to have a baddie. There’s enough people on TV who are bland.”

Abanazar is joined by John Evans as Aladdin’s cheeky brother Wishy Washy, Nigel Ellacott as Widow Twankey and Rebecca Parket as Scherazade.

Jason describes Rebecca as ‘absolutely enchanting and exquisite’ and added: “She has the best legs in the business!”

Although he’s from Down Under, Jason is realising how popular panto is in Britain.

He said: “I’m Australian and never grew up with the panto tradition. What I’ve learned from living here for 16 years is it’s engrained in your culture. What I’m understanding more about panto is it touches young children. For a lot of them, it’s their first foray into live theatre, so anything that encourages the arts and supports theatre is welcome, especially if it resonates with children.”

He also feels theatregoers can enjoy panto more than any iPod or computer game.

“Watching performing arts, it’s visceral,” he said. “These days kids are locked into their devices a lot but what’s great about live theatre is it captures their imaginations.

“I know of some children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or special needs who sit through the entire show, gripped. Teachers tell me ‘I can’t get them to sit still in class’. There’s a magic about live theatre.”

Aladdin is at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, from December 10-31. For tickets, call 01492 872000 or visit venuecymru.co.uk.