A TOUCH of Still Game is coming to Greenock with two stars heading to town later this year.
Mark Cox, who plays miserly pensioner Tam Mullen in the BBC series, and Jane McCarry, best known as gossiping Isa Drennan, will return to the Beacon Arts Centre for the annual pantomime.
This year’s show is ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and the Still Game duo, who have starred in panto at the waterfront venue in each of the last two years, will make a welcome return from Friday December 9 until Saturday January 31.
It was announced a fortnight ago that the acclaimed series will return later this year - almost a decade after the last episode was screened.
Last year Mark played baddie Abanazar in Aladdin while two years ago Jane was the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.
The pair, who have known each other since drama school and also run their own company Pipe Up, are delighted to be appearing in panto together.
Mark, who has recently been in popular BBC show Shetland as the detective Tommy Monro, said: “We’ve known each other for years and get on so well that we will definitely have a blast this Christmas.”
BAFTA Award-winning actress Jane is also known for her role as Granny McMurray in CBeebies show Me Too! and has been recently touring in the hugely-popular stage show Mum’s the Word 2, which was on at the Beacon in February.
Her role of the wicked fairy Nightshade is a far cry from her television persona.
The jealous fairy Nightshade curses the prince to spend eternity as a Beast when he rejects her and throughout the panto attempts to prevent Beauty from falling in love with him and breaking the curse.
Her Still Game co-star Mark Cox returns for his second consecutive year and takes on the role of Angus, the loyal and dedicated servant who plots to bring Beauty and the Beast together as well as taking a little bit of a shine to Dame Betty.
Jane said: “I appeared as Fairy Godmother at the Beacon two years ago and I am delighted to have been asked back and can’t wait to play a baddie!”
Beauty and the Beast runs from Friday December 9 until Saturday January 31 2017.
For more information or to book tickets to the show call the box office on 723723 or visit www.beaconartscentre.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here