Rebecca Keatley is set to play Alice Fitzwarren in the pantomime Dick Whittington at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall from Friday 12th December to Saturday 3rd January, and she will be working alongside a cast including Richie Anderson as Alderman Fitzwarren, Suzanne Shaw as Fairy Bowbells and Djalenga Scott as Queen Rat. Probably best-known as a presenter, Rebecca is a presenter on CBeebies House and will be in the cast of the CBeebies pantomime Cinderella, which will be airing on CBeebies, BBC iPlayer and cinemas in December. From 2012 to 2014, Rebecca had her first debut project for CBeebies, when she was part of Let’s Play alongside Sidney Sloane, and over the years as part of CBeebies, Rebecca has performed at Shakespeare’s Globe for the CBeebies Shakespeare plays, with As You Like It (in which she played Rosalind) winning a BAFTA Award in the Children’s: Scripted category earlier this year, and in May half term, she was a guest at Whipsnade Zoo with Mister Maker. Speaking with us, we found out from Rebecca about her upcoming role of Alice Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, being a CBeebies presenter and what it’s like being part of CBeebies Pantos and Shakespeare plays.

You are set to play Alice Fitzwarren in pantomime this year in Leicester, what are you looking forward to for performing in Dick Whittington at the De Montfort Hall?

I’m super excited about being on stage with the brilliant cast which are in the show this year. What a fabulous line-up.

With the pantomime opening on Friday 12th December, how are you preparing for your role of Alice Witzwarren and what will you bring to the character?

Once I get the script and songs, I begin by listening to the songs wherever possible, whilst making dinner or washing the dishes, just to get familiar with them, and reading the script whenever I get 15 minutes, before bed is a great time to let it absorb into the grey matter. Then usually the week of rehearsals is when things really begin to take shape and you find your way into the character and everything slots together nicely.

How is it interacting with the audience during a pantomime and seeing families getting involved?

This is one of my favourite parts of pantomime, getting instant feedback from the audience. I love hearing the roars of laughter when a joke lands.

Do you have a favourite aspect of pantomime season?

Apart from the bond you create with the cast. It’s really feeling like you’ve stepped into the festive season with both feet, from seeing families turn up in their Christmas outfits, to hearing all the Christmas songs playing backstage and front of house every day.

How has it been reading this year’s script and meeting the rest of the cast, which includes Richie Anderson as Alderman Fitzwarren, Suzanne Shaw as Fairy Bowbells and Djalenga Scott as Queen Rat?

The script is fantastic – twists, turns, buckets loads of humour and a wonderful rags to riches story. I’m very much looking forward to meeting the whole cast at the end of November. I think we’re going to have a blast.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Dick Whittington at the De Montfort Hall, which is booking until Saturday 3rd January?

This year, De Montfort Hall are really pulling all the stops out. It’s guaranteed to be a feast for the eyes, there’s non-stop music, incredible costumes and sets and a fabulous cast. If you’re looking for a fun and festive time at the theatre, this is a must-have ticket.

You are best-known for being a presenter on CBeebies House, what is it like presenting on CBeebies and what do you enjoy most about working on the channel?

CBeebies really is the dream job. I get to be myself and that means being a big kid. I also often have the opportunity to work on lots of other CBeebies-related projects, like CBeebies at the Globe or the Royal Albert Hall, an absolute dream for a performer.

As well as this year’s run of Dick Whittington in Leicester, you will also be in the cast of Cinderella for CBeebies (which is airing on CBeebies, BBC iPlayer and in cinemas this December), what are CBeebies Pantos like to perform in?

They are fabulous. It’s a thrill whenever you hear that you’re part of the cast. CBeebies always manage to tell a classic tale in a wonderfully warm and relatable way for children. I also get to spend time with my best friends, which is a highlight.

How do you find the experience performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in the CBeebies Shakespeare plays, and how was it having As You Like It (in which you played Rosalind) win a BAFTA Award in the Children’s: Scripted category earlier this year?

It’s an honour and privilege to be on the stage at the Globe and I’m so happy the team at CBeebies won the BAFTA, as they worked so hard making it what it was.

How was your time being a guest at Whipsnade Zoo in May half term with Mister Maker?

It always amazes me the variety and fun I experience doing my job. I always feel incredibly grateful to be able to spend my time performing in so many different places. Whipsnade was awesome. I pretty much wandered around the zoo every day between shows and my daughter Mabel loved it just as much as me.

From 2012 to 2014, you were part of Let’s Play alongside Sidney Sloane, can you tell us about this?

I appeared in Let’s Play – it was my first job at CBeebies. That really was my dream job, playing over 90 characters in the first series. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

What are some of your stand-out highlights from your time so far as a CBeebies presenter?

This is tricky, there are so many things that I’ve loved doing.

We’ve mentioned the Globe and the Royal Albert Hall but also Hospital Heroes where we used to film in Alderhay Hospital and see the children, it was incredibly moving and it felt very special.

How did you get into presenting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I put on a character comedy show with a good friend at London Camden Comedy Festival and in Edinburgh too. A friend of mine suggested I send off for a new CBeebies show called Let’s Play – as I mentioned, it was filled with characters, something I loved to do already. I wrote off. Managed to get an audition and the rest is history.

Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?

I’m lucky if I watch any TV or read any books at the moment. I loved Only Murders in the Building, I’ve yet to watch the latest series. Books? I’m into non-fiction – mainly about health, the brain or body. I’m fascinated by it.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I don’t really have much free time now I have my daughter but being out in nature is right up there.

What are you hoping next year brings for you?

More of the same please. Fun, laughter and making memories with friends and family 🙂

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