Michael returns to 'second home' for panto role this Christmas

Actor  Michael  Neilson can’t wait to spend the festive season in Torbay, which he refers to as his ‘second home’. 
Michael  will be treading the boards this Christmas as Dame Derriere at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, alongside Only Fools and Horses star Sue Holderness in the pantomime Beauty and the Beast. 
He knows the area well as his wife Gael Johnson is from the area. 
“I’ve been coming down here for many years,” he said.  “My wife and I met in the show South Pacific, which started at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in 1987. Gael is from Goodrington and my mother-in-law was the headmistress at Eden Park School in Brixham for 40 odd years.  Gael went to dance school with Polly Anna Buckingham [principal of local renowned dance school Buckingham Dance Studios]. Gael was known in the bay, when aged 13 she was taken to play a lead in Annie at the Victoria Palace.” 
Michael, who has barely had a Christmas off in more than 40 years of acting, is looking forward to spending time in Torbay. 
“It will be great,” he said.  “It’s quite odd being here though not just to see friends and family and instead for my job.” 
From a young age  Michael  decided he wanted to have a career in acting, pushing aside any thoughts he had on becoming an architect. 
“I saw it was three years to do a course in acting and seven years to become an architect,” said Micheal.  “The arrogant young me thought I’d be fine and do well in acting and start my career quicker.” 
He started out in school plays and joined Surrey County Youth Theatre, where he met another now very famous stage star,  Michael Ball. 
“I’m not sure what ever happened to him,” he joked.  “He’s probably gone on to become a plumber or something!” 
The Principal of Surrey County Youth Theatre saw Michael’s potential and marched him to Guildford School of Acting, where he auditioned…The rest is history and he has career highlights galore. 
“I did South Pacific in the West End,” said Michael.  “As a couple, my wife and I have been very lucky. She was in Starlight Express while I was in Oliver! She was in Joseph while I was in Blood Brothers.   We had blessed careers and we’ve done about a dozen West End shows.  
“I’ve done TV commercials and was going to be a regular in the TV show The Bill, but I was the understudy to the role of Fagin in Oliver! at the London Palladium at the time and they wouldn’t let me off the contract.   Some things unfortunately you miss out.” 
Life as an actor isn’t always easy, as you are self-employed, and  Michael  was keen not to sugarcoat it. 
“I was playing Dean Martin in The Rat Pack in the West End and we were given two weeks’ notice that the show was going to close. We’d just moved house and I had two young children. 
“You can go from earning a good wage to nothing quickly.” 
Thanks to  Michael’s talent, he’s found work as an actor and he built up a solid reputation.
As well as acting, these days he is a LAMDA teacher with his wife Gael and is now all set for panto this Christmas. 
With all his experience of playing a dame, how has he perfected the art? 
“I watch, learn and borrow a bit from others and make it my own,” said  Michael.  “I also try to enjoy it. If the audience see you are enjoying it, then they will too. 
“It’s traditional, you are passing on the tradition and you pass it down. It brightens the dark gloomy days around Christmas time. It’s part of Christmas and hope it will carry on after I’ve gone.” 
Beauty and the Beast runs from December 9-31.