Basil Brush, Paul Zerdin and Darryl Worbey talk styling panto superstars
There are some absolute superstars in London panto this year. The legendary fox from the box Basil Brush has become the rage on the stage, starring in Cinderella at Richmond Theatre, while panto favourite the amazing Paul Zerdin with his puppet partner Sam appears in the London Palladium’s Sleeping Beauty. We wanted to hear what happens behind the scenes with these panto icons so called Basil and Paul up for a chat, and also asked their mutual stylist, Darryl Worbey, what it’s like working with such illustrious celebrities.
Basil, firstly thank you so much for taking the time to tell us about Cinderella at Richmond. What’s your role in the panto this time?
I am playing Baron Basil Hardup, which is a role I have played before at Theatre Royal Windsor in the past but it is with a completely different cast this year and at a different theatre. It feels like starting a new year at school! We have Charlie Stemp as Buttons and Call the Midwife actress Helen George as the Fairy Godmother
You’re a familiar face at Richmond Theatre, which has hosted many comedy legends in its time, including Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Arthur Askey and indeed Gary Wilmott, who’s directing this year’s panto. How does it feel to know your paws are treading the boards of history?
I was last at Richmond nearly 20 years ago in Dick Whittington with John Inman: he kept saying “I’m free!” and I said “My agents insists I get paid!” Ha! Ha! Boom, Boom!
I love treading the boards of history, in fact whenever I am near the London Palladium I look at the poster that is still on the wall there and I think one of my first pantos, with Cilla Black and Leslie Crowther.
You’re working alongside the incredibly talented Charlie Stemp and Helen George. How does that feel?
I am thrilled to be still going and working with new stars of today like Charlie Stemp who has played many lead roles in the west End. He is a fantastic tap dancer, but when I tap dance I fall in the sink! AAGGGGGHHHHH – and then do the washing up?!
This is a bit of a personal question but, as your career in theatre and television now spans over 6o years, how do you manage to keep so young looking?
I have been in showbiz for what seems a lifetime. Well it has been. They say I was born on stage! The audience liked it so much they kept it in the act… I have been a star since the 1960s – and one of the few that hasn’t been arrested – but have never had a nip or a tuck, and anyone who thinks I have had a facelift are ‘talking out of their Botox!’ Ha! Ha! Boom, Boom!
And of course my personal stylist Darryl, says many personal things indeed, but always makes me look well-groomed and free of fleas!
So over to Darryl here then. We know Basil only works with the most prestigious creatives – can you tell us about your role as his stylist? Is he a high maintenance client?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Basil since 1998. He came to us originally wishing to have a re-style on his existing ‘classic‘ outfits prior to the relaunch of his television series The Basil Brush Show. We kept all of the original elements – cravat, waistcoat and jacket – that had worked so well for him before but introduced more colour. The emerald green and Burberry-checked waistcoat really pops against his red fur. Basil is like Royalty (although a lot smaller in height): he needs to stand out in the crowds and be instantly recognisable, and this combination really works well for him.
Shortly afterwards, and as we had gained more trust with our new furry client, we encouraged a more contemporary feel to his wardrobe – a slightly more relaxed and casual style that he could introduce at events and personal appearances. For the television series we designed over 70 individual costumes and for pantomime, it’s always a collaboration – he knows exactly what he likes and feels confident wearing. Design meetings and wardrobe fittings are always full of laughter, a degree of sparkle and of course many a jellybaby!
Your career in fact has a fabulous pedigree even before working with Basil, and has seen you contributing to Star Wars and A Muppet Christmas Carol. What did you do for those productions?
For A Muppet Christmas Carol I was part of Muppet Workshop – a team of 12 responsible for the day to day operation of preparing all the 200 characters and their costumes over the 11 weeks of filming. It was a joy to work on – except for the fake snow, which got everywhere. You could take it home with you too if you weren’t careful!
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi my primary role was as costume designer, and as fabricator for Yoda, who was once again played by actor Frank Oz.
Paul, like Basil before you, you are currently performing at the London Palladium, with your puppet partner Sam. What’s your role and how is it going?
This year I’m The Great Zerdini in Sleeping Beauty! I’m the same idiot I play most years but I also get to do Magic this year which is great cos that’s kind of how I started as a magician. It’s going really well thank you. I do a lot of my own material which is kind of woven into the storyline. I also do a comedy magic routine with one of my best mates, Nigel Havers, who plays my assistant. I hypnotise him and we end up performing an illusion together! It’s really silly!
Can you tell us something about Darryl’s work with you and your puppets?
Well I’ve been working with Darryl for many years now and I just love his creations. You can go to him with a vision for a new character and then he helps make your dreams become a reality! He’s done such amazing work over the years in film and TV that I feel lucky to know him! Every so often Sam needs a bit of a spruce up and I don’t know how Darryl does it but he gets him looking tickety boo before a tour or panto. A while back I went to him with a couple of ideas – one was a bodyguard and the other an Urban Fox – and it’s so exciting see your ideas come to fruition. My fox character that Darryl built looks like something straight out of Labyrinth! I love it!
You’ve done so much work on TV and in small venues, is it difficult to translate your performance onto the giant, glitzy Palladium stage?
Well funnily enough the Palladium is half the size of some of the venues I’ve been doing in America over the last few years. But even though The Palladium is 2300 capacity it has this amazingly intimate feel to it and it really is the best venue in the whole world for comedy!
Finally, what have you all got planned for the New Year when the panto is BEHIND YOU!?
Darryl: There’s always something! Be it design, construction or development work. What I most enjoy is the diversity, creative processes and working with some of the industry’s finest performers, such as Basil and Paul!
Paul: I just finished a tour before I started the Panto and while I was on tour I thought I should do another one of these next year so that’s what I’m doing – I’m taking another brand new show out on the road called Paul Zerdin Shut Your Mouth! I will also be heading back to Las Vegas later next year where I have had a residency at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club earlier this year. I love the fact that I can go and work in the US and the UK!
Basil: Boom! Boom! It’s PANTOTIME IN RICHMOND right into the New Year, so I’m hoping you will all be coming to see me there!
Thanks so much to Basil, Paul and Darryl for chatting all things panto style with us. We can’t wait to get along to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty!
You can find out more about Darryl Worbey’s work at http://www.darrylworbeystudio.com/ or on Instagram check out @darrylworbeystudio @realbasilbrush and @paulzerdin
Cinderella runs at Richmond Theatre until Sunday 4 January. Book here.
Sleeping Beauty runs at The London Palladium until Sunday 11 January. Book here.
