I have every confidence in saying local actor and author Jon Monie won’t sue me for suggesting his ‘mug’ would suit the back of a bus.
That’s because it’s where you may have seen the face of this talented chap who has been enriching our local Christmas festivities with laughter and slapstick for eighteen years now
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Currently there is still a double-decker doing the rounds with the cast of last year’s Theatre Royal Bath panto on its rear end.
However, Jon has the 12th of December circled on this year’s calendar as opening night for the next extravanganza – aimed at bringing tears of joy to children from nine to 90 – and either side of that too!
For many years Jon – who l first met doing young people’s television back in the days of HTV West – has played alongside the late, great panto dame Chris Harris.
Now he’s once again teamed up with Nick Wilton for this year’s traditional show.
I met up with Jon outside the Garrick’s Head for a chat about how this age old Christmas entertainment was holding up.
We were going to chat on one of the benches in the Saw Close square but they are in storage while the bike stands are being moved around to block off parts of the new steps that have been causing tripping problems.
It’s all down to health and safety don’t you know. Oh yes it is!!
My thanks to the Theatre Royal Bath for letting me use some past panto production shots and to the Garrick’s Head for letting us use their outside seats for the interview.
Also to Jon Monie for giving me a handful of his personal and informal photographic memories of some great years of Christmases past. Here’s to the next one to come!
PS. Find out more about this year’s panto and all other attractions coming to the Theatre Royal via theatre royal.org.uk
You can also view Jon’s talents as an actor in a short film he’s made which you can view via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2iu7vWxNQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0ZWECurI0mvDyJeroUUPOWFdgRnB9gcJqrONvac2-cEwIpuK0pi_7X2fw
PPS. What did Jon say about panto taking a dip in the 1980’s? I would like to think my professional outing with Roy Hudd and Co at the Theatre Royal in 1989 was the start of the recovery!!
