In his new show, comedian Liam Williams gives the panto a postmodern twist. We need a bit of silliness in these austere and divided times, he explains.
Nobody in history has actively wanted to be a pantomime writer, just as nobody has ever wanted to be a urinal designer or composer of the music that plays when you open birthday cards, but pantos will not write themselves. And while some wags may aver that’s a good thing, we’re having none of it. In austere and divided times, we’re embracing silliness and route-one togetherness. Yes, we’re (we hope) mordantly commenting on the international financial centre/ gentrifiers’ theme park known as London, but we’re also just trying to raise a chuckle – whether that’s a down-the-nose-snort or one that’s truly mirthful.
Ricky Whittington & His Cat is at New Diorama Theatre, NW1, 12 December to 7 January