Dame Edna Everage is to make her first appearance in pantomime when she stars as the Saviour of London in the New Wimbledon theatre’s production of Dick Whittington this Christmas.
The inimitable antipodean is an international star who has displayed her talents for chat and housewifery across television and stage for decades. Her TV talk shows have included The Dame Edna Experience and A Night On Mount Edna, while she has been seen on stage as part of the Royal Variety Performance and her Tony-winning Broadway show Dame Edna: The Royal Tour.
Everage, whose alter-ego is Oliver! star Barry Humphries, said: “I am delighted to be making my pantomime debut and starring as the Saviour of London in Dick Whittington. Being a stranger to pantomime I am looking forward to all the fun and frolics and meeting all of you lovely little possums of London, but most of all, the thought of guiding Dick Whittington to become Lord Mayor of London thrills me. I did the exact same thing for Boris Johnson not long ago.”
Dick Whittington, which plays at the New Wimbledon theatre from 9 December to 15 January (press night 15 December), tells the story of a young man and his cat who set out to find wealth and success in London.
The delightful Dame will be following in the footsteps of a succession of well-known personalities who have previously dipped into pantomime at the New Wimbledon theatre, including David Hasselhoff as Captain Hook and Pamela Anderson as the Genie of the Lamp.
CB