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Berwick Kaler

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Nationality
  
British

Name
  
Berwick Kaler

Role
  
Actor


Berwick Kaler wwwyorkshirelifecoukpolopolyfs115809961359

Born
  
31 October 1946 (age 77) (
1946-10-31
)
Sunderland, County Durham, England

Occupation
  
Actor, Writer, Director

Known for
  
TV shows
  
Spender, The Worst Witch, Crocodile Shoes, Bad Boyes, Breeze Block

Movies
  
The Body Beneath, Go Now, Red Riding: 1974, A Knight's Tale, Bloodthirsty Butchers

Similar People
  
Andy Milligan, Jimmy Nail, Michael Winterbottom, Julian Jarrold, Brian Helgeland

Berwick Kaler Takes His Final Bow But His Legacy Will Live On


Berwick Kaler (born 31 October 1946) 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.

Contents

Berwick Kaler The Merry Men of Pantoland Berwick Kaler Kenneth Alan

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 Old Mother Goose review a golden egg of a panto Stage

Towards the end of each pantomime at the Theatre Royal in York Berwick Kaler throws Wagon Wheels, as one might a Frisbee, to the audience, as well as handing out a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale to a father seated in the stalls.

Berwick Kaler Nothing like a dame Stage The Guardian

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, something he often does in each pantomime. During the event, he was appointed Honorary Dame of Burn.

Berwick Kaler iPledge Berwick Kaler YouTube

In 2012, he was featured on the documentary Michael Grade's History of the Pantomime Dame, which also featured clips from the 2011 pantomime The York Family Robinson, a parody of the novel The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. The programme aired in December 2012 on BBC Four.

Dame berwick kaler man or woman


Selected appearances

  • Michael Grade's History of the Pantomime Dame (2012) as himself.
  • A Knight's Tale (2001) as Man in Stocks
  • The Worst Witch (1998–1999) as Frank Blossom. Left after Series 2.
  • Jude (1996)
  • A Very British Coup 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)
  • Annie Get Your Gun (1986) as Foster Wilson and Chief Sitting Bull
  • References

    Berwick Kaler Wikipedia