Mike Holoway will be playing the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at The Cresset in Peterborough, which is open from Saturday 13th until Wednesday 31st December, and Mike will be working alongside a cast including Steven Woodcock as Father/Mr. Mayor, Vanessa Boland as Beauty and Kim Taylforth as the Fairy. Across three decades, Mike is best-known in theatre for playing Joseph over 4000 times in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, having started playing the role at age 19, with his final performance at age 45, and alongside other former Josephs such as Keith Jack, Jonathan Dudley and Chris Barton, he toured with Dreamcoat Stars as well as releasing an album. Over his theatre career so far, Mike has performed in numerous shows including Grease as Danny Zuko, the 10th anniversary tour of Godspell and created roles in Robin: Prince of Sherwood, Hold Tight and One Careful Owner. On screen, Mike played the regular character Mike Bell across the final five series of The Tomorrow People, and he started his performing career as a member of pop band Flintlock, and in 2021, he released his solo album Spirit of the Brave. We found out from Mike about his upcoming role of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast at The Cresset in Peterborough, performing as Joseph over three decades in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and starting his career as a member of the band Flintlock.

What are you looking forward to for playing the Beast in The Cresset’s pantomime of Beauty and the Beast this December?

I’m looking forward to being a baddie and creating the drama of being turned into a beast. It’s good that I end with being the good guy.

With the pantomime opening in Peterborough on Saturday 13th December, how are you preparing for opening night?

My preparation is to get into the character, feel the dialogue and learn it, then to the music – we have some great songs for you to enjoy during this wonderful show.

Have you performed in Beauty and the Beast previously and what do you think this year’s production will be like to be part of?

This will be my first time playing the Beast, so it’s very exciting and transitional. I think this year’s show will be a great balance of talent, beauty and excitement for the whole family.

Do you have a favourite aspect of pantomime season and how is it interacting with the family audience?

My favourite aspect of panto is seeing the kids’ faces through laughter, maybe a few tears and wonderment as the characters unfold in the show to tell the incredible story. Interacting with the audience is fantastic as it makes every show different.

What was it like meeting the rest of the cast for the first time and how does it feel to be returning to The Cresset?

The cast all met at the press launch at the end of July and it was so lovely. The cast will produce a great balance of all the characters in the show.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Beauty and the Beast at The Cresset in Peterborough, which is open from Saturday 13th to Wednesday 31st December?

I would recommend you come to see us, as the whole team involved in this production care so much and we all want to keep theatre alive and kicking.

You are best-known to theatre fans for your run in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which has seen you perform as Joseph over 4000 times across three decades; what was it like taking on the role of Joseph and reprising your character throughout the years?

I am very proud of being a pioneer in the role of Joseph, helping shape its progress through the decades with some fantastic talent, the likes of which we will never see again. As I matured, the act 2 Joseph had more meaning to me as the character would have been mid to late 40s. I first played him when I was 19 and last played him when I was 45 and proud of my record of over 4000 performances.

Do you have any stand-out highlights from working on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that you can share?

My stand-out moments doing Joseph would be creating box office records all over the UK with the show, the West End run at the Peacock Theatre (previously known as Royalty Theatre), and the main vinyl cast album of that time.

How was it touring with Dreamcoat Stars in 2023 and recording for the album alongside other former Josephs – Keith Jack, Jonathan Dudley and Chris Barton?

Yes, I was part of the team that launched Dreamcoat Stars, and I’m very proud to have been part of the team that got it off the ground and shared the risks, so to speak. Jonathan was a joy to work with, and Keith’s vision of the idea we all executed and gelled so well.

Can you tell us about some of the further roles you have played on stage, which have included Danny Zuko in Grease, Jesus in Godspell and Robin Hood in Robin: Prince of Sherwood?

I did the first tour of Grease way, way back. The 10th anniversary tour of Godspell, created roles in Robin Hood, Hold Tight, One Careful Owner, and many other fantastic musicals over a 15-year period.

How was your time in the cast of The Tomorrow People as Mike Bell and what did you enjoy most about playing a regular character on the show across the final five series?

The Tomorrow People becoming a cult modern day show and is still shown around the world is something very dear to me. I was a child when I made it and had five great years with it.

You started your career as a member of the pop group Flintlock, what are some of your favourite memories from performing with the band?

Flintlock was a pop sensation vibe, if you like, it was a launchpad into 70s early 80s pop and is the format to my show.

What was it like working on your solo album Spirit of the Brave, which was released in 2021?

Spirit of the Brave is an album of great cover songs with some of my own compositions, and I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together myself.

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

I trained at music college from age 10 and that’s how it all started for me, as a drummer initially. I love the drums to this day, it’s part of my show.

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch and music artists to listen to?

Films I like – Close Encounters, First Blood, The Green Mile. TV, currently I like – David Attenborough’s Planet Earth, and all his stuff really. Theatre shows would be West Side Story, and Rob Plant, Led Zeppelin, Karen Carpenter and Colm Wilkinson are artistes I really enjoy.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I spend my free time with my dogs, wife, daughters and family – it’s very important to me.

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