Profiles

It was in the mid 1980s that Martin first joined Berwick Kaler on the Theatre Royal stage, since then he's played the daft son to Berwick's Dame almost every year.

Martin, like David Leonard and Suzy Cooper is an integral part of the team and it's hard to imagine a production without him. In 2006 he was briefly "promoted" playing Berwick's Ugly Sister in Cinderella.

What keeps him doing it? "Well I usually find myself unexpectedly available. It is kind of thrown together."

Martin in 'civvies'.

Barrass has got the art of playing the 'daft' son of Kaler's Dame down to a fine art and the 2008 season, was no exception, with Martin once again acting as the perfect foil for Berwick Kaler.

Over the years, partly due to its enormous popularity, the run has got longer, "I think when we started out it was around six weeks, but during the millennium show we had a power cut just before the slapstick routine. Berwick would have done it in the car park, but he had to announce that we couldn't continue and we lost two shows.

"The Theatre decided to put those shows back in the final week, including three shows on the final Saturday, which nearly killed us! So now they've added the extra week or so just in case.

"It is exhausting and the vocal chords become like leather, but you find some way of doing it. Berwick gives it everything so you have to get through it and give it your all."

Martin trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, which has now merged with the Central School of Speech and Drama. When he attended though, remains a mystery. "I went at nine every morning," is all he'll say. Like the rest of the panto regulars Martin is a "jobbing" actor with regular appearances at the Theatre Royal and across the country. He's also appeared in many popular television shows. 

The rewards for returning to York each Christmas are obvious to Martin, "People always say we look as if we're all having a great time and what is wonderful is when someone comes up to you and says 'I saw the 3rd show and the 68th and it's still as fresh as ever'.

"That's what we're aiming for, to keep it as fresh as ever throughout the run. Just trying to keep up the standards."