UKPA Interview with Nigel Ellacott

Following the evening performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Richmond Theatre on Tuesday 6 December, Nigel Ellacott (Dame Betty Barnum) was in conversation with Simon Sladen, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association and Senior Curator of Theatre and Performance at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Nigel is a pantomime legend, having performed in pantomimes since 1974 all across the country - from Nottingham to Newcastle and Llandudno to London. In 2021 he was the recipient of the UK Pantomime Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

An authority and ambassador for all things panto, Nigel also designs and creates his own costumes, a selection of which were acquired by the V&A in 2017. Having been exhibited by the museum, these now form part of the museum’s world-renowned National Collection of Performing Arts which also features other costumes and designs for Dames including Danny La Rue, Les Dawson and Stanley Baxter.

For pantomime lovers everywhere this event was a unique opportunity to gain insight into what it’s like to be one of the nation’s greatest pantomime dames and to hear fascinating stories about the theatrical Christmas tradition loved by many.