By Claire Corrigan
One local actor has just gone and landed the lead in The Helix Panto 2017 in which, he will taking on the iconic role of The Beast in the much loved tale, Beauty and The Beast.
Speaking to Topic, Chris Corroon said it was a dream come true to be part of the much famed Panto, now in it’s 10th year, which has seen thousands of theatre goers flood through the door each day.
Chris admitted that he didn’t even know he had been put forward for an audition until he received a call from the TheatreworX Productions, “A friend of mine, Collin Hughes who has done the Panto in the Helix for the past ten years actually put me forward. They were looking for new people and he put my name forward for it.”
Chris was originally asked to audition for the part of Gaston; however, the panel quickly realised the AIMS nominee’s potential. “I went up and did the audition. I really didn’t think I was going to get it because there were a lot of big names from the West End and I was coming from the middle of Mullingar, so it was definitely a long shot,” he joked.
After the audition, Chris was informed that it would be a few days before he found out if he had made the cut. “A couple of days later I got a text message from Claire Tighe (Creative Director of TheatreworX Productions)who runs the Panto and she asked me to return for a callback. She also wanted me to audition for the part of Beast.”
Chris returned to Helix for the 15 minute audition alongside Orla Jennings who plays Belle. “Before I left the audition room, Claire said they had a few more people to see and it would be a couple of days before I knew anything.
However, it wasn’t long before the director had a change of heart, opting to offer Chris the part on the spot. “I left and was having a coffee at the little sit-down area in the Helix and Claire came out and tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Can you come back in for a minute?’ I went back in and she said, ‘We don’t have to think about it. We want you as the lead.’ I was shocked. I didn’t think I would get it at all. I was sure some of the guys who had West End shows and big touring shows behind them were going to get it but thank God they took a chance with the country boy,”he laughed.
Chris said that while he never suffers from stage fright and felt confident in his audition, he was not expecting to be chosen. “I did my best and thank God my best was good enough. It was such a huge compliment because I knew how good the other fellas were and they were trying to get the person for the show.”
The Ballinagore man was offered the role at the beginning of September and has yet to start rehearsals but after seven years on stage, there is no sign of nerves. “The rehearsals are intense with the Helix Panto. They start in the first week of November and we are contracted to do 10am to 6pm every day for two weeks and we get the script a little bit before rehearsals start. You kind of have to go in knowing your stuff. I can learn a script pretty quick. It’s good that we will have two weeks rehearsal because I’m better at learning if I’m actually on the stage doing it.”
Earlier in the year Chris was offered a scholarship to study Musical Theatre at the American College, Dublin but he knew he could not turn down the opportunity to play the lead at The Helix. “When I got this audition, I had the college secured, so I had nothing to lose because if I didn’t get it, I would go to college. I had to hand back my scholarship and the place in college to take the part in the Helix. It is just what I want to do. It’s my first big professional show and to get that without having to go to college was a big thing for anybody coming from the amateur circuit. It doesn’t happen very often. I feel very lucky.”
Chris has certainly done his time on the amateur circuit and performed in dozens of shows with the Clara, Tullamore, Athlone Musical Societies. “It’s my dream to do a professional show. It came out of nowhere. To be on a national stage and being one of the leads is a huge thing for me because it’s great exposure for any performer because you don’t know what’ll lead to.”
You can catch Chris in the Helix Panto from 24 November until 24 January where he will be starring in twice daily shows of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’
