Berwick Kaler
Encyclopedia
Berwick Kaler is a British actor most famous for playing the dame
in York Theatre Royal
's annual pantomime
, which he also writes and directs. He has been awarded the freedom of the city, and in 2002 received an honorary degree
from the University of York
. Having grown up in "the slums of Sunderland", Kaler left school at 15 to seek success on the London
stage. He got taken on at Dreamland in Margate
to learn his trade. He has had TV roles in such shows as The New Statesman
, Crocodile Shoes
, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
and Spender
as well as steady theatre work. However, it is his role in the York pantomime that has won him the most acclaim.
Many pantomimes in recent years have relied heavily on celebrity guest stars and risque humour. Kaler's pantos reject this and hark back to a more traditional form of pantomime. Kaler comments: "I want everyone to laugh at the same joke". Kaler's central role in writing, producing and directing has led Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph
to call him the "panto's biggest asset and its biggest liability." Kaler has assembled a cast of actors who regularly return to the panto.
Berwick Kaler throws Wagon Wheels
, like Frisbees, to the audience at the end of the annual pantomime
at the Theatre Royal
in York
.
In November 2010 Kaler followed in the footsteps of actress Jean Alexander
and TV presenter Harry Gration
in switching on the Christmas lights in the village of Burn
. In recognition of the village's Victorian market he dressed as Queen Victoria. During the event, he was appointed Honorary Dame of Burn.
Pantomime dame
A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British pantomime. It is a continuation of en travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing...
in York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
The York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St. Leonard's Place, York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 847 people. This reduced capacity takes into account removal of the mixing position seats and the stage side boxes which are normally not sold...
's annual pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, which he also writes and directs. He has been awarded the freedom of the city, and in 2002 received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
. Having grown up in "the slums of Sunderland", Kaler left school at 15 to seek success on the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
stage. He got taken on at Dreamland in Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
to learn his trade. He has had TV roles in such shows as The New Statesman
The New Statesman
The New Statesman is an award-winning British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time...
, Crocodile Shoes
Crocodile Shoes
Crocodile Shoes is a British 7-part television series made by the BBC and screened on BBC One in 1994.The series was written by and starred Jimmy Nail as a factory worker who becomes a country and western singer...
, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven English migrant construction workers. In the first series, the men live and work on a building site in Düsseldorf....
and Spender
Spender
Spender is a BBC television drama set in Newcastle upon Tyne, written by Ian La Frenais and Jimmy Nail, who also starred. The series was produced by Martin McKeand . The series was broadcast on BBC between 1991 and 1993...
as well as steady theatre work. However, it is his role in the York pantomime that has won him the most acclaim.
Many pantomimes in recent years have relied heavily on celebrity guest stars and risque humour. Kaler's pantos reject this and hark back to a more traditional form of pantomime. Kaler comments: "I want everyone to laugh at the same joke". Kaler's central role in writing, producing and directing has led Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
to call him the "panto's biggest asset and its biggest liability." Kaler has assembled a cast of actors who regularly return to the panto.
Berwick Kaler throws Wagon Wheels
Wagon Wheels
Wagon Wheels are a snack food sold in Australia, Canada, Iran, United Kingdom, Russia, Malta and the Republic of Ireland. They are biscuits topped with marshmallow and covered in a chocolate flavoured coating. The biscuit itself is round to represent the wheel of a wagon .Wagon Wheels were created...
, like Frisbees, to the audience at the end of the annual pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
at the Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal
The York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St. Leonard's Place, York, England, which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 847 people. This reduced capacity takes into account removal of the mixing position seats and the stage side boxes which are normally not sold...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
In November 2010 Kaler followed in the footsteps of actress Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander
Jean Alexander is a BAFTA Nominated English television actress. She is best known to British television viewers as Hilda Ogden on the soap opera Coronation Street, a role she played from 1964–1987 and also as Auntie Wainwright on the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine from 1988 to 2010...
and TV presenter Harry Gration
Harry Gration
Harry Gration is a television presenter based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:...
in switching on the Christmas lights in the village of Burn
Burn, North Yorkshire
Burn is a village and civil parish in the Selby district North Yorkshire, England. It is situated some three miles south of Selby.The village is mainly situated around the main A19 road with the addition of a small housing estate built in the mid 1960s to the west of the main road.To the east of...
. In recognition of the village's Victorian market he dressed as Queen Victoria. During the event, he was appointed Honorary Dame of Burn.
Selected appearances
- A Knight's Tale (2001) as Man in Stocks
- The Worst Witch (TV Series)The Worst Witch (TV series)The Worst Witch is a British ITV television series about a group of young witches at a Magic Academy. The series stars Georgina Sherrington and Felicity Jones, and is based on The Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy. It aired for a total of 3 series between 1998 and 2001 before being followed by...
(1998–1999) as Frank Blossom. Left after Series 2. - Jude (1996)
- A Very British CoupA Very British CoupA Very British Coup is a 1982 novel by British politician Chris Mullin. In 1988, the novel was adapted for television, directed by Mick Jackson, with a screenplay by Alan Plater and starring Ray McAnally...
as Smith - The Man With Two Heads (1972)
- The Rats Are Coming, The Werewolves Are Here (1971)
- Nightbirds (1970)
- Bloodthirsty Butchers (1970)
- The Body Beneath (1970)
External links
- Review in The StageThe StageThe Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
of The Lad Aladdin - 2004 interview with Kaler in the Independent.
- 2005 interview with Kaler in the Daily Telegraph.
- York Theatre Royal