Rise of the house of Usher, panto style

HE'S behind you! Oh no he's not. That's the last place you're likely to find Musselburgh panto favourite Arron Usher - after all, he's one of the good guys.

Usher stars in his tenth Brunton Theatre pantomime next week, when he embarks on a seven-week run of Mother Goose. It's a new challenge for the 30-year-old actor whose CV already boasts one Cinderella, two Sleeping Beauties, a Sinbad, a Beauty And The Beast, a Dick McWhittington, two Aladdins and a Jack And The Beanstalk - all at the East Lothian theatre.

In Mother Goose, which opens on Tuesday, there's something afoot at Tranent Castle. Vainglorious, the demon king,has fallen in love with Jill, the loveliest lass in Musselburgh. However, he's furiousto discover that she's already smitten with Prince Jack of Tranent. Cue an evil spell from Vainglorious which causes the castle cook, Gertie Gaga, to help him snare thesubject of his affections.

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Yes, as ever, all signs point towards East Lothian in this year's Brunton panto, the fifth to be written and directed by Evening News entertainment editor Liam Rudden, and Usher confesses that he has become so immersed in the whole panto experience since his first appearance on the Brunton stage back in 1998, that occasionally it's hard to remember which of his numerous 'Silly Billy' characters he's playing.

"I can't believe this is my tenth Musselburgh panto," says the actor. "The Brunton Theatre is my home, they've treated me so well over the years and it's always great to come back, but I've been doing it for so long that in rehearsals I've found myself introducing myself as Buttons, or Wishee instead of Muddles, this year's character. It's like all my characters are starting to run into each other. This year, though, Muddles is a wee bit different, he's a court jester.

"Liam has put a twist on the traditional story of Mother Goose. He has given the baddie a love interest, dreamed up a space-age fairy and reinvented the fountain of youth transformation of the dame."

Although Prince Jack lives in Tranent, other scenes bring Musselburgh's Old Roman Bridge and High Street to life.

"There's also loads of local references. The audiences love them, but then it is tailor-made for the area," adds Usher, who is reunited in the production with Craig Glover, who plays Gertie Gaga, a Lady Gaga wannabe.

"Craig is a great dame," he says. "He was Saucy Nancy last year and we have a great chemistry together. We have a great tongue-twister to get through this year that features the Hayweights, plates, slates and crates, and lots of song and dance numbers."

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Suitable for all the family, pantomime is a great British tradition which gave Usher, like many, his first taste of live theatre as a child.

"Kids and adults just love it - that's what makes panto so special.

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Most of us got our first taste of theatre by attending a panto. I remember going to the King's Theatre when Stanley Baxter was the Dame.

I fell in love with the wow factor, the costumes, the lights."

Another pantomime legend who inspired Usher, was the late Gerard Kelly, who died suddenly at the age of 51, earlier this month.

"I really appreciated watching Gerard Kelly and am devastated by what has happened. He was the reason I not only wanted to become an actor, but to do panto.

"He was already a succesful actor when he turned panto into a form of art. A lot of actors turn their noses up at it, but it's one of the hardest disciplines to get right, and Gerard was the master of it."

That said, with Brunton panto number ten about to open, Usher himself could teach younger actors a thing or two about doing pantomime.

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Laughing, he advises, "Just don't drop the sweets during the sweetie shower. In my first ever panto I was so nervous that I dropped the bag of sweets all over the stage and the kids stormed the stage to get them."

Oh, yes they did.

• Mother Goose, Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Tuesday-31 December, various times, 13.50-15.75, (family tickets 46-55), 0131-665 2240