Panto baddie David McGranaghan
The Scottish actor is enjoying the gig, after deciding it would be worth taking a chance on something a bit different this Christmas, in which case the Hope Street theatre and its 'rock 'n' roll' panto is definitely the place to be. He says: “It’s really good, the audiences are great. I’ve done a couple of commercial pantos before and this is so different. It’s a fresh script from a team who really care and are really passionate about what they’re doing. I was offered another panto but thought this one was going to be much more fun and interesting, and that was definitely the right decision.” David, from Ayeshire although you wouldn’t tell from Oderon’s clipped Queen’s English tones, comes from panto fresh from working with a team including Stephen Daldry and Lily Allen to develop the new Bridget Jones musical. At 25, he says he's probably too young to take on any of the male roles when the show is finally ready, but the chance to work with the team behind the Billy Elliot musical was a great experience. And so, to the North West. “It’s been the first time I’ve worked in Liverpool and it is really nice to be based here. There’s a very strong theatre scene and a lot of good stuff on here and it’s nice to see all that. There’s a lot of work up here too, with actors jumping between theatres, and filming Hollyoaks and things like that.” Inbetween shows, he’s also promoting his latest invention – a board game called Game for Fame, that has already bagged him a rather fancy sounding Shell Young Entrepreneur award. “Three years ago me and my friend Joe were doing a show in Leeds,” he says. “There were no matinees and during the day we wouldn’t have anything to do, so we’d play a lot of board games. Then, we decided it’d be a bit of a laugh to create our own.” After much developing, tweaking and testing out on friends and family, things started going from strength to strength and Game for Fame has just been released. It’s an interesting sideline for the actors but things are already looking promising for their endeavour, a mix of traditional board game and party games for up to 16 people in a race to superstardom. “It’s very odd, completely random work and we have already been shortlisted as a Toy of the Year 2011. It’s really nice to have something creative that you have control of and to learn different business skills. It’s a lot of work, but I believe in it. It takes a lot of commitment inbetween shows and even though it’s only just out, we’re already working on the next edition.” Meanwhile, he can still be caught in Sleeping Beauty at the Everyman until January 22 - all performances are still due to go ahead despite the snow.
