HE IS NO stranger to playing a baddie so it is no surprise that former Emmerdale star Jonathan Wrather is looking forward to ‘counting up the boos’ when he takes to the stage as pantomime villain Abanazar.

Wrather, who played the controversial and conflicted Pierce Harris in the soap, will lead the cast in this year’s family pantomime, Aladdin, running from Wednesday, December 12 until Saturday, January 5 at Rhyl Pavilion.

Rhyl Journal:

Abanazar (Jonathan Wrather) tries to put the fear into Aladdin (David Perkins) and Princess Jasmine (Gemma Naylor). Picture: Phil Micheu

The English actor, who played Joe Carter in Coronation Street and has appeared in Waterloo Road and Casualty, will be joined by David Perkins (Aladdin), Gemma Naylor (Princess Jasmine) from Nick Jnr’s Go! Go! Go! and Denbigh’s Sean Jones who will be back at the Pavilion Theatre for his seventh annual pantomime.

The Journal were invited to meet the cast during a press launch on Friday (September 21).

Whilst taking a seat in the theatre’s 1891 restaurant, Wrather admitted how much he was looking forward to starring in the show, but revealed he hadn’t seen a production of Aladdin.

Rhyl Journal:

The cast of Aladdin at the press launch at Rhyl Pavilion. Picture: Phil Micheu

The father-of-two, who played Eugene in pantomime Beauty And The Beast last year at Newark Palace Theatre, said: “I am looking forward to it [Aladdin] immensely.

"I have to confess, I haven’t seen a production of Aladdin. I remember the animated version, I think it was 1992. I haven’t seen it since then so I will have to reacquaint myself with it.

“I do know what the story is and I know it resolves around a lamp, Aladdin and a flying carpet and the show is going to be packed full of singing and dancing and certain effects. It is going to be good.”

In Aladdin, ‘evil’ Abanazar seeks the magic lamp that contains the all-powerful Genie.

Rhyl Journal:

Abanazar (Jonathan Wrather) tries to put Wishee Washee (Sean Jones) in his place! Picture: Phil Micheu

When asked what he would wish for, if granted three wishes, Wrather opted for sunshine and the ability to teleport.

“It is so blustery today, I think the metal roof was flapping around, so perhaps that [the sun] would be one,” he said.

“I would like to be able to teleport between shows and after shows so I could get home to see my kids who are very young and I miss them hugely when I am here.

“And three...I don’t know. I think I would just hold one in reserve.”

Wrather, who graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1992, met his fellow cast members for the first time during the press call. The group will start rehearsing for the production in November.

“Live theatre is a major buzz,” Wrather added. “It is what I trained to do.

“I'm really fortunate to be asked to do it. I did one about 15 years ago. You don’t often get the chance to do them, so when you are asked to do it, you jump.

“There is nothing like it [the panto tradition] anywhere else. It is the purest kind of theatre because it is an amalgamation of all sorts of things. You’ve got your comedy and your drama and your pathos. It is a melting point and anything goes.

“Counting up the boos and hisses mean you are doing a good job.

“Playing the so-called baddies is always fun. You get that immediate response and that is the thing with panto, it is very clear cut - the goodies and the baddies.

“I think it is going to be a huge amount of fun.”

Wrather is hoping to see his family in the audience when he takes to the stage.

He said: “My kids are still very young. They are three-and-a-half and one-and-a-half.

“They came along to the panto last year and I was in two minds or not whether they should come. 

Rhyl Journal:

Aladdin (David Perkins) and Princess Jasmine (Gemma Naylor) With the lamp which Abanazar (Jonathan Wrather) is seeking. Picture: Phil Micheu

"I thought they would be freaked out by seeing their dad on stage or they’d be afraid or it would be too loud, but they sat there and never left the audience. They were transfixed.”

Naylor, best known for being the pink wearing blonde member of Nick Jr’s Pop band Go! Go! Go!, trained in Musical Theatre at Bird College on a full scholarship.

She confessed that taking on the role of a princess was “so much fun” and joked that it was a persona she didn’t like to lose when she came off stage.

Last year, Naylor played Cinderella in the pantomime at Malvern Theatres.

“Jasmine is a little more feisty,” she said.

"She is quite fun to play as you get to be, I want to say, more powerful. They are both strong women in different ways. Both telling their dads what they are going to do.

“I hope to make Jasmine strong, independent and lovable.

“The theatre is beautiful. I had no idea that Rhyl had such a beautiful venue.

"I used to take summer vacations on Anglesey but never around this area.”

Naylor, who is a qualified personal trainer and yoga instructor, agreed that panto can be quite the workout.

“To be honest, I can’t complain. Aladdin definitely has a harder time,” she said.

“You just have to look after yourself in-between performances, your voice, sleep, things like that.”

This is Perkins’ first pantomime. The 24-year-old recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

He said: “Aladdin is quite a youthful and cheeky character, so I am just excited to come and have some fun because that is what Aladdin is all about. I was so excited when I got the part. I rang my mum straight away and she screamed down the phone.

“It is my first time in Rhyl but not my first time in North Wales.

"My family, we used to come every year to Barmouth, so I know North Wales very well. I’ve been up Snowdonia hundreds of times.

"North Wales is not new to me. It feels like a home from home.”

Book tickets on 01745 330000 or visit www.rhylpavilion.co.uk