It’s that time of year again, when preparations are underway for the biggest Christmas panto to take place in the south-east, at the Cliffs Pavillion.

This year it’s the return of Cinderella, with funnyman Brian Conley starring in the role of Buttons, Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph as the Fairy Godmother, the beautiful Lauren Hall playing Cinders herself, and the brilliant duo Martin Ramsdin and David Robbins as the Ugly Sisters.

Sat around a table at a press call at the Southend theatre, with the actors in full make-up and costume (they’d got dressed up for the photo shoot), there was a feeling of festive excitement in the air, despite the autumn sun still hanging on in there and blazing outside.

Legendary producer Michael Harrison, who has produced more than 100 pantomimes, as well as the Bodyguard, Annie, Barnum and the Witches of Eastwick, to name but a few, was also there. Much to my dismay, Lesley Joseph couldn’t make it.

“When it’s time for panto, you know it’s Christmas,” said Lauren. “It’s such a fun job to have after you might’ve done serious roles. For me, panto is like the biggest Christmas present. People who go to the panto might not go to the theatre any other time of year.”

Lauren, by the way, is currently playing Louise in the hit production Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton at London’s Savoy Theatre, which incidentally, is also produced by Michael Harrison.

After she finishes her role there on November 28, she has one day off before starting work at the Cliffs.

“Doing this panto will be like a lift of energy after Gypsy, which is pretty intense,” she said. “That’s not to say panto isn’t hard work – you do need to have a lot of stamina to do two shows a day. I’ve already noticed there is a chip shop right nearby which is great, because you know you’ll lose a lot of weight doing this show.”

One of the other journalists at the table asked whether Brian the makes the cast corpse a lot.

“I’d rather make the audience laugh than this lot!” said Brian.

“There is a lot of skill involved in that. You have your to give it 110 per cent to the audience, whether it’s a matinee or evening performance. There is nothing worse than the company having a better time than the audience...

and I’ve seen Bobby Davro!”

It’s not without its dangers too, as David Robbins, one of the Ugly Sisters confirmed, as he told me about breaking a wrist while on stage – a “swan’s neck break too”

he said, which meant it was completely bent out of shape – but continuing through the performance “without batting an eyelid”.

Of course, the star of the show is Brian Conley.

I had already interviewed him last year, when he came to the Cliffs to star as PT Barnum in the musical Barnum. He had experienced a few accidents during that show, and said he lost loads of weight thanks to the demands of the role, where he had to tightrope walk among other things.

“It was great being in Barnum, but there is nothing quite like the freedom you feel from being in a pantomime. You know, if someone stutters, you can ad lib, you can take the mickey out of it, suggest he’s been on the sauce,”

he laughs, holding up his hand-to-mouth to impersonate someone drinking.

Part of being able to ad-lib well, of course, comes when children from out of the audience are brought on stage.

“I really do like that part of the show,” said Brian. “It’s that point in the show where anything can happen. You’ll get these kids up on stage and they’ll say all sorts.

One of them once, I asked what he wanted for Christmas, and he said ‘well, I wouldn’t mind a bit of Cinderella!’ He was only about five!”

It was only a few years back that Cinderella was at the Cliffs, starring Shane Richie.

I asked whether there was any feeling of competition where things like that were concerned, or if they ever watched other actors in the same roles to get an idea of what worked.

“Well, I was in Cinderella with Shane,” said Martin Ramsdin, one of the Ugly Sisters.

“Was he as good as me?” asked Brian.

“Yes!” said Martin, after a pause. “With Shane, it’s like organised chaos on stage, with Brian, he’s like a laser.”

“Brian the laser!” cut in Brian, “I like that.”

“They’re different, but you get the same end result,” said Martin.

“Shane is very wide on the stage, he doesn’t leave it empty, where Brian is like...a laser. He will notice the second something is not right or not working. And I always watch all the actors, everyone on the stage. You are never too old to learn, to master your craft.”

With all the fun and slapstick, its really down to Cinders to hold it all together.

“My job is to tell the traditional story,” said Lauren. “While everyone else is doing the comedy, I have to stick to the story of Cinderella so everyone knows what’s going on.”

But she does get to enjoy a real slapstick scene, which she says is her favourite part of the show.

“She’s very good at falling over!” adds Brian.

Despite through the interview Brian accidentally referring to Southend as Southampton a couple of times (the man tours a lot – we’ll give him a break), he does also reveal how Southend has a special place in his heart as it was where his mum and dad met on a beano.

With Michael Harrison promising that the stage set has been designed exclusively for the Southend theatre too, its looking to be something memorable.

ý Cinderella is on at the Cliffs Pavilion from Saturday, December 12, until Sunday, January 10.

Tickets are on sale from £22.50 to £35.50. There is also a relaxed performance for £10, for people with learning difficulties, on the autistic spectrum disorder or anyone who may benefit from a more flexible theatre experience, and their carers. Everyone is welcome, but there is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement and elements of the show will be adapted to suit the setting.

Call 01702 351135 or visit southendtheatres.org.uk for booking and more details.