Maureen Nolan talks Christmas ahead of St Helens panto
Growing up in a big household filled with kids, the festive season was always “the most magical time” for the Nolans – and one where despite showbiz demands, family came first and work second.
And yet, until they relocated from their native Dublin to Blackpool in the early 1960s, the grand tradition of the Christmas panto passed them by.
“It was never really a thing in Ireland, I don’t know why,” explains Maureen Nolan who was an eight-year-old when they settled in the Lancashire resort. “I only saw a panto for the first time when we moved and I remember watching it and thinking, ‘what on earth is this? Everyone’s overacting, and the old jokes!’”
Little can the youngster have imagined then that pantomime’s larger than life characters and groansome gags would become an integral part of the landscape of adult Christmases, with several of the famous singing siblings taking to the stage in seasonal shows up and down the country.
For Nolan it’s a personal theatrical tradition which she says stretches back to the Liverpool Empire in 1990 when she made her panto debut in Babes of the Wood, playing Maid Marian. The cast also included Neighbours’ Stefan Dennis along with Billy Butler and Wally Scott and the production featured a waterfall on stage.
Her son was just two at the time and would accompany her to work – something that quickly became a regular occurrence.
She smiles: “He came to every single panto with me and would fall in love with a dancer. I used to say to him – a dancer’s for life, not just for Christmas! And in those days, before health and safety, from when he was about nine, he also used to help the crew.”
And while she’s lost exact count, the 70-year-old – who went on to forge a ‘straight’ stage career including two years as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers the West End - reckons her appearance as the Wicked Queen in Snow White at St Helens Theatre Royal this December must be “about my 30th panto”.
“It’s become such a part of Christmas now, it probably wouldn’t be the same without it,” she says. “The camaraderie and the fun that you have, and you make really good friends.”
Above: The St Helens panto cast. Top: Maureen Nolan is playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Having appeared in so many productions over the years, it’s also something of a ‘six degrees of separation’ for the actress and singer. For example, Richard Aucott, who is playing Nurse Nelly, has been in two Christmas shows with sister Anne (who has chalked up 32 pantos herself), while Nolan recalls Pete Price – who is voicing one of the seven dwarfs – supporting the Nolans on their tour dates way back when, as well as working with their drummer brother in Blackpool.
As for family, while son Dan now may be a bit old for panto, Nolan has five granddaughters – aged from ‘nearly 15’ to three months – who enjoy coming to see her on stage.
She laughs: “I remember when I was playing a baddie and older two were three or four, and they were very into it. The prince ran on and said: ‘oh no, who’s taken Beauty?’ and they both shouted: ‘Nanny did!’”
There will be plenty of chances for all of them to catch nanny being evil this season at St Helens, including three performances on Christmas Eve.
Nolan will then make a dash back to Blackpool, where she now lives again, for the big day itself. So, given the Nolans are, in her words, “still obsessed with Christmas”, how will she be spending her brief time off?
“Normally I spend Christmas Eve with my son and his kids, stay over there so I see them in the morning,” she reveals. “Then probably go to one of my sister’s houses. I think there’s probably 15 of us there this year for Christmas dinner.
“We all open presents in Denise’s house, masses of presents. And then usually like every other family, we play games at night. Silly games. We do love a game.”
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at St Helens Theatre Royal from November 30 to January 12, 2025. Details and tickets HERE
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