Nottingham Playhouse’s Lara Sas is bringing fresh magic to this year’s pantomime
The actor was raised in Woodthorpe and watched the show growing up
When it comes to Christmas shows in the city, there’s nothing like the Nottingham Playhouse panto, which is known across the country for being special and unique.
I chatted with the villain of this year’s show Sleeping Beauty, Lara Sas, who plays Maleficent magnificently. They grew up watching the show, so we delved into the magic of living their childhood dream, as well as their remarkable acting career that blossomed right here in Nottingham.
If you’re looking for December events in Nottingham, there are plenty of reasons to go out and watch the show. It’s playing at the Playhouse until January 17, so you have plenty of time to catch it on either side of Christmas. nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
“It’s really nice to be a panto villain that’s not two-dimensional” – Nottingham Playhouse’s Lara Sas on their magical homecoming
By Eve Smallman
Photos by Manuel Harlan and Marc Brenner
Here in Nottingham, no panto is quite like the Nottingham Playhouse panto. It’s known for its wonderful scripts that blend in pop culture and local references. It’s never the same, but it’s always dazzling.
Someone who knows a lot about this is Lara Sas. Raised in Woodthorpe, they spent many a Christmas watching the iconic show – and performing in it was life-changing for them.
“The Nottingham Playhouse was my first experience of theatre,” says Lara. “I always wanted to be in the chorus growing up, so when I was 13, I auditioned to be in the chorus and got it. When the curtain went up on that first day, and I looked out into the audience, that was when I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
This year, they’re playing the starring role as the iconic villain Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. “There’s a lot of comedy and humour, and I have a lot of very funny scenes with the prince, which I think come as a bit of a shock, because she’s not always the traditional baddie evil,” explains Lara. “It’s really nice to be a panto villain that’s not two-dimensional and has a lot of different layers.”
Think sly smiles, hip thrusts, and even a little bit of Bat Out of Hell. “To get to play, have fun, and bring that joy to audiences as the Playhouse did for me growing up is just amazing,” they smile.
They trained at Elevation Dance (formerly the Jill Gregory School of Dancing) in Sherwood, Flying High Expressive Arts in Arnold, and Funky Studios in Mansfield, as well as studying at Nottingham College. They tell me, “Growing up, you hear all the available things are in London – but actually, having access to all of this in Nottingham was amazing, and really has meant my dream came true.”
After this, they have been in other pantos (including being nominated for Best Magical Being at last year’s Panto Awards), played Rizzo in Grease, played Monica in Friends: The Musical Parody, and even been in a few horror films.
But, one of the biggest roles they’ve played recently is the Dance Captain in the UK production of Dear Evan Hansen, which was produced by and debuted at the Nottingham Playhouse.
“With it being a new project, it wasn’t just a case of you go stand there, this is how you do that, but all of us working together,” Lara tells me. “I was also part of the first-ever ensemble for Dear Evan Hansen, and no one knew what that would look like at first.” They also got to work with choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, who has also choreographed for Six: The Musical and Miss Saigon.
They continue, “I also got to understudy quite a few different roles as well, which was both terrifying and exciting. I think one show I was put on 15 minutes before the show started!” Switching between Evan’s girlfriend, Evan’s mum, and Connor’s mum sounds like a lot to remember.
The new production of Dear Evan Hansen was directed by Adam Penford, who is the Playhouse’s artistic director and is also the Playhouse panto’s writer and director. “I’m so blessed to be working with him again, because I think he’s absolutely brilliant,” Lara says. “When we got into rehearsal, he was so free with everything and allowed us to play around with things.”
Coming back to the Playhouse to play Maleficent has been ‘literally like living little Lara’s dream.’ It has also been amazing for Lara to perform with legendary panto dame John Elkington, who was also in it when they grew up. “He is everything – he’s so funny, kind, and lovely, and it’s amazing meeting and working with a hero who is everything you dreamed they would be.”
Lara also says it’s special to look back at their younger self and think, ‘We did it.’ “It’s so amazing to be back in Nottingham and have family and friends coming to watch me,” they say. “Quite a lot of people who I knew from my childhood still come and watch the panto every year and say ‘Wow, you’re in it, so I’ll be seeing you.’ It means more than any words could describe.”
Thinking about watching this year’s Nottingham Playhouse panto? Lara says to go all in and embrace the experience. “Join in and have fun, because that is what panto is all about. Christmas is a magical time of year, and panto really encompasses that magical atmosphere.”
They finish, “It’s something that is so classically British, and particularly for the Nottingham Playhouse. It is written for the people of Nottingham and people from the Midlands. You can escape everything from the world and come, just laugh, be silly, and be a kid.”
Sleeping Beauty is playing at Nottingham Playhouse until January 17. nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
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