A veteran showrunner is gearing up for his 50th panto season as Aladdin takes the stage in Dundee this weekend.
Graeme Smith, who first starred in Cinderella in 1975, has spent half a century writing, directing, and performing in pantomimes with the Downfield Musical Society.
This year, he brings the beloved tale Aladdin to life at the city’s Whitehall Theatre.
At 73, Graeme has dedicated decades to the festive tradition.
SuppliedHe told STV News: “I’d never even seen a panto before, but I thought ‘let’s do that.’ I joined the chorus, thought it was great fun, really enjoyed it, and decided this was for me. I never looked back and have been with Downfield Musical Society ever since.
“Fifty years of panto! Who would have thought? As you get older, you start playing the villains and the nasty parts, which are great fun. I prefer getting booed than cheered!”
This year’s Aladdin features all the classic characters with some fun twists, all orchestrated by Graeme.
“In 1987, there was a vacancy for a director, so I thought, ‘Let’s give it a go,'” he said.
STV News“I get a lot of flak for my corny jokes, but people laugh. They keep coming back.”
Graeme estimates that between 250,000 and 300,000 people have attended his pantomimes over the years. This week, more than 6,000 people are expected to see Aladdin at the Whitehall Theatre.
“The magic of panto is seeing the audience enjoy themselves,” he said. “For many kids, it’s their first theatre experience, and for them to boo, cheer, and be involved, it’s something special.”
Aladdin runs at the Whitehall Theatre until December 21.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
