Dominic Ferris and Martin Milnes present The Christmas Cracker from 12th of December at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith.
Dominic is a pianist extraordinaire; Martin has ‘two voices’. Together they combine comedy, music and vocals in a dynamic cocktail of explosive West End glamour and fun! They couldn’t possibly be planning madcap musical mayhem, merriment and mirth for Riverside Studios … or could they…?
Expect the unexpected, plus all the Christmas favourites you know and love, in this heart-warming, foot-tapping seasonal shindig. Further special guests to be announced.
The Artiscape spoke to them about their upcoming production;
You have been working for many years as a duo. What first inspired you to put this innovative theatre together? And how do you keep each performance fresh?
Ferris & Milnes: Our collaboration evolved as a fusion of our different skill sets. Dominic is a classically trained pianist with an extensive repertoire of modern pop music. Martin is a musical theatre performer with a soprano falsetto voice! Yet we “meet in the middle” with our mutual love of the Great British and American songbook. Our calling cards have been our mash-up medleys … comedy has always been key to Ferris & Milnes productions. Every performance is a new experience; and we like to keep both audiences and ourselves on our toes, never knowing what to expect next!
Earlier this year you created We’ll Meet Again, a morale-boosting music film dedicated to the theatre industry featuring the late Dame Vera Lynn and many West End stars. I imagine the film gave a lot of hope and comfort to people in the industry.
Ferris & Milnes: We were thrilled by its reception. The film reached a worldwide audience, and the comments left on YouTube were extremely moving. Dame Vera’s assurance that we would all meet again, some sunny day, undoubtedly offered a new generation that same assurance which she instilled in her wartime listeners.
How effective do you find digital media like zoom for creating performances? What do you think could be improved with available software?
Ferris & Milnes: Zoom is helpful in a lockdown situation, but there is no substitute whatsoever for live performance and physically being in a rehearsal room. Improved software would be helpful, but the most exciting and vibrant work is always created in person.
Can you tell us what an audience can expect from this production?
Ferris & Milnes: Expect the unexpected – “Christmas Cracker” is a dynamic cocktail of explosive festive glamour and fun!
What were the challenges you faced in putting this show together in these strange times? How did you overcome them?
Ferris & Milnes: After a long collaboration we’ve built up an extensive repertoire of material, working together very quickly when creating new pieces. So we plan as much as possible if we have to be apart; but the real magic happens together in the rehearsal room.
You have performed for huge crowds in the past. How do you expect this will be different with social distancing and audience participation?
Ferris & Milnes: The joy of live theatre is that it brings everyone together, whether outdoors in a packed Trafalgar Square or in a socially distanced theatre. This time, people may be physically spaced apart … but the emotional connection between audience and performers is ever-present. To quote from the classic film “All About Eve”: “Wherever there’s magic and make believe and an audience, there’s Theatre!”
What are you most looking forward to about this production?
Ferris & Milnes: To perform live again – with an audience – in a beautiful theatre. And share that special relationship across the footlights which remains unique to live performance.
The Christmas Cracker is at Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9BN, from the 12th of December.
Box Office: 020 8237 1010 / www.riversidestudios.co.uk
