An Audience with May McFettridge

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Well-known Northern Irish actor Sean Kearns, who has also appeared in a variety of West End roles including Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Billy Elliot, is the narrator and leads a talented cast which also includes Alistair Brookshaw and Sinéad O’Kelly who play the Baker and Baker’s wife. However, it was the opportunity to work as a Redcoat in Butlins Holiday Camp in Mosney, County Meath, at the age of 20, which gave him the opportunity to get on the stage and cemented his ambition to be a performer. One superbly expanded role was that of the old King Leopold, played with assured silliness by Richard Croxford. He's been in bed for four years since being widowed, doesn't wash much and has to be persuaded to act. Northern Ireland’s very own queen of comedy, May McFettridge has earned a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old alike with her distinctive brand of affectionate but well aimed gibes and witticisms.

The appeal is obvious - May McFettridge brings a hilariously Northern Irish twist to whatever magical fairytale she's in. Cinderella could be looking for her lost slipper, and May might stumble onto the scene to tell an audience member they'd a face like a slapped arse. And we lap it up. We were told the world was being put on pause for four weeks. And here we are nine months later and I haven't a clue what bubble is what bubble.” This year will be the Theatre’s biggest pantomime yet, with an incredible cast and creative team bringing Northern Ireland audiences spectacular entertainment, toe-tapping tunes, spellbinding dance moves, special effects, and much more”, commented Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House. The Grand Opera House pantomime is staged by Olivier award-winning producer Michael Harrison on behalf of Crossroads Pantomimes, the biggest pantomime producer in the world. Michael also produces The London Palladium’s pantomimes, and his current show, The Wizard of Oz, is enjoying a sell-out run at the venue before it embarks on a UK and Ireland tour, which includes a week at the Grand Opera House in May 2024.Two men who are particularly missing the panto seasons are John Linehan, aka May McFettridge, resident panto dame at Belfast's Grand Opera House (GOH) for the past 30 years, and William Caulfield, who has been the panto Dame at Derry's Millennium Forum for the past 14 years. Basically, if you're in the first half a dozen rows - you're cannon fodder. If you're in the front, make sure you have your hair done, or if you're bald, make sure you've a wig on, that's all I'll say. But it's all in good humour." I proposed in the usual way - down on one knee, too full to stand up. We got married in Dublin in 1975. GOH panto co-star] Paddy Jenkins, myself and whoever the principles were would have regularly gone over to The Crown for a pint after the performances. Even going into town and walking by the theatre is going to be strange this year.” Jimmy later moved to the north of England, where he still lives. It was whilst performing at Working Men's Clubs, that his catchphrase Come ‘Ere There’s More was born.

This Cinderella is a comic outing in the main, even though the story is uber-romantic. So we saw Buttons, the Prince and Cinders upending each other on a wall and doing a comedy routine which undercut the passion.I've been there when there have been bomb scares and we've had to be evacuated. I remember one time having to walk down to the Washington Bar and everyone was in their gear. At The MAC is a characteristically deft production from Cahoots NI. It's both new, old and appealing. The psychology is modern in Paul Bosco McEneaney's re-telling and it is refreshing to see two ugly sisters who are physically pretty, but nasty on the inside (Catriona McFeely and Philippa O'Hara). We got to understand the reasons for their meanness. He also credits The Irish News for playing a role in helping him on the path to show business with a theatre reviewer who saw his appearance at Stairway to the Stars in the Grove Theatre in Belfast’s Shore Road in 1968 giving him his first positive review and describing him as ‘having talent’. May is, of course, the Queen of one liners and this year's unusual December election provides some political fodder for her. "There always something newsworthy that justifies a few lines of comment. There will definitely be a couple of political lines about Boris Johnston and an empty Stormont."