Buzz Magazine Dec/Jan 2013/14 | Page 18

upfront

pic: ©BRIAN TARR 2013

JULIAN CLARY
As he heads to the New Theatre this winter, the master of innuendo
and practised panto star Julian Clary talks to Heather Arnold.

A

s the days grow shorter and more
people head to the theatre to escape
the cold, the age old British tradition
of pantomime beings to hit the stage.
Whether you’re grabbing a seat at your local rugby
club or heading to a professional theatre you’re
guaranteed to get burley men dressed in frocks,
audience participation (oh no there isn’t, oh yes
there is!) and ridiculously rude jokes. Most of the
latter provided by comic Julian Clary.
“I’m the Spirit Of The Beans, an ethereal being from
another planet,” explains Clary, who is staring in
the pantomime classic Jack And The Beanstalk this
month. “It’s basically the fairy godmother role. I’m
there to look after Jack and steer him away from evil.
I sing a few songs, wear a lot of costumes, wear a lot
of make-up and provide a bit of glamour.”
Known for his camp and, more often than not, bawdy
comedy Clary adds and bit of adult fun to the family
show.
“My role is to entertain the adults,” he says. “A lot of
pantos can be very fixated on children, and can be a bit
childish for the &W7B?bF?RVF?V?6Rv??&R?fW"F?P?vR?b2?6??F????F?N( ?2v?B?'&??rF?F?R'G??( ?v?V??Rv26???B???6V?b?F?R7W'&W??&?&??6??VF??v2f"g&??F?R?WFv???r?fRv?&RvP???r6VR??B6?'?F?F?( ?B??BF?R7FvRV?F???P?%U?????7&VFVB6&&WB7BBV??fW'6?G?2f?R?&?@??W?&?&F?7B?V??V????( ?26???B?v2fW'???G&?fW'FVB?B??'f??W6??v6?( ?Bv???rF?&RF???rF?F?R7FvR??B?W7B6?'B?`?7&WBW???R?( ?7FFW26?'??( ?v6?( ?BfW'?v??@?B7F??r??B?v6?( ?BfW'?v??BB6??v??r??B??v6?( ?B&V????FW&W7FVB????F???r??F?( ?Bw&?GFV???6V?b?'WB?v2??FW&W7FVB??????rV??R?Vv??( ?N( ?2v?B?V?V?V?@??b?&6?????BF?@?V?2F??R?( ?( ?6&&WE?v2gV???Bv2fW'?6V?b?7Vff?6?V?@?&V6W6R??R?W7B6?'B?bw&?FR??W"?v??FW&????'&?vVB??W"?v?&?????w2?BF?BV?FRV?V@?F??R?&F?W"F??v?F??r&?V?Bf?"6??V??RF???ffW"??R??"?( ?v?F???F?R?vW"????2??G26?'??BF?P?g&VVF??F?F?R??27B????F?&V7F????F?????p??Vg???R?W?B6??6???r6??F?W2?&?F??VF?W ??Bd2&R??B?WrF?6?'?( ?2v&G&?&R???BWfV??'&??r??7FvR??2?v?WBv??WB??VBf?????6?'?( ?27B6???&V6?R?V?"?B?gFW"6WfW&???V&?6R??g&?F???v?B?fRF?&?Vv??WBF?P??2?7F'FVB??2?v?v?R6??r??6???V?B6??V@?7F?6?????V?G2v?F??V??6?'???6??6RF?V?F?R?7B?b6??w26?'??2&VV???f??fV@????22???r2v??N( ?2&V?7F??????6W&??W6?W70???R6??V?Bv??v?R?B??B?fR??6?VFVB6??w20?f&?VB2v??6R??R?2?B??v??v??F???P?F??????R&S???V?v?&?W'2?B6V?V'&?G?&?p?'&?F?W"?v??6??Rv?????WfV?F??Vv?6?'??27V6?F?fW'6R5b??^( ?2vV??????v?f?"??26?&??r?F???RW&f?&??6W2???VF?V?f?"v??6??R6W'F????2f??"???0?&WfV?'???F?R?&6???b?F??27W&RF?'&??r6??P??Vv?G?gV?F?F?RG&F?F????f?'?F?R??( ???RF?Rf7BF?BF?W&^( ?2??f?W'F?v???B??P?6?F?w&W72g&??F?R67&?B?( ??R6?2?( ??F??Vv?v^( ?&P?FV???rF?R7F?'??b?6??BF?R&V?7F??F?W&^( ?0??V?G??b??'GV??G?F?'&V?v?g&??F?B??`?6??V??^( ?26?Vv???r??F?RVF?V?6R??R6?F?F??F?V???b6??V??^( ?2vV&??rgV????V?W"??R6??7V?F?F?V???N( ?2v?B?V?V?V?B?b?&6?????@?F?BV?2F??R?( ??6??BF?R&V?7F???WrF?VG&R??6&F?fb?6BBFV2?7V?????F?6?WG3??*3??S?*3#??S???f??#?#?r?????wwr???WwF?VG&V6&F?fb?6??V????