He has audiences in stitches with his jokes, puns and innuendos. But it’s the huge number of outrageous outfits that often steal the show.
Professional Panto Dame Joe Standerline tells the Bridlington Echo why he loves Bridlington and the Spa…
“I like Brid today because of the audiences I’ve built a relationship with over the past few years, because the staff at the Spa are among the friendliest and most professional I have ever worked with.
Alice was my first Dresser at the Spa and we formed a great friendship.
Anita is with me now and without her I couldn’t make it happen – she’s is just brilliant. There are no secrets between a Dame and their dresser. The sights the pair of them have seen over the years! I have been visiting Brid since I was a kid so to be revisiting for panto is a joy.
I remember the little boating lake that used to be next to the Spa which my grandparents would take me to. I always waited so I could sail in a blue one. They were still there the first time I appeared as dame in the Spa panto.
One story that springs to mind is a heart-warming one. At some point in every run, I deliver a ‘shout-out’ for an old friend. I’d met this person years ago and she’d never miss a season. She would often travel a considerable distance to see me.
A wonderful woman who sadly is no longer with us but I still read her name out for old time’s sake. On more than one occasion, as I’ve shouted her name out into the auditorium, the lights have flickered. It’s like she’s still there and still joining in.
Live theatre is a two-way street, panto especially; our audiences are just as much a part of the show as we are. Even for the people I never get to meet, it feels like friendship and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
And here an impressive resume of Joe Staderline – the legend of the Panto stage is not just pretty dresser…
Joe began his career in touring rep with the Rathbone Theatre in Liverpool in the 1980’s. He went on to form his own theatre company writing and producing original shows for two decades. His scripts are now published by Heinemann Plays and Oxford University Press.
Joe’s most recent TV acting role is in the new Disney Plus series, The Full Monty!
He recently finished shooting for The Long Shadow for ITV (due for release in 2023) and has taken a guest role in a new feature film called Recipe for Love.
After his panto contract he will start filming a new project that is currently under wraps.Joe also plays Martin in Safe for Red Productions on Netflix worldwide release.
He appears as Father Dan in Hollyoaks and took a cameo role in the first series of Victoria for ITV.
Other TV includes Father Bruce in Shameless, Gary in Clocking Off and Nigel in Stan the Man. Radio credits include ‘Boss Moss’, ‘Best Wishes’ and ‘The Game of Empire’ for BBC Radio 4. His first film role was Danny in The Fruit Machine alongside Robbie Coltrane. He also played Dr Doyle in the short film, The Forgotten Army.
He has recently taken the lead role of Samson Fox in The Man Who Captured Sunlight for the Royal Hall Harrogate in partnership with Cause UK and Freddie and Edward Fox.
Other theatre roles include The Band Leader in Dancehall of Dreams at the Leeds Playhouse, Truffeldino in The Servant of Two Masters, Norman in The Dresser, Antonio in The Tempest and Mr Grub in Herd of Brutes.
Musical Theatre work comprises: Tin Woodsman alongside Lorna Luft in the sell-out Lowry production of The Wizard of Oz, The Emcee in Cabaret, Seymour in The Little Shop of Horrors, Jacob in La Cage Aux Folles, Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Madame Thénardier in Les Miserables.
Joe stepped into Richard O’Brien’s leopard print boots to present the multi-million-pound immersive theatre production of The Crystal Maze. Joe is also an award-winning Pantomime writer and performer.
His music hall inspired Dame characters have appeared in theatres across the UK for the past 25 years and he’ll be appearing in Snow White at the Bridlington Spa once again this year.
