Someone once remarked that Matt Rixon was tall and a funny shape – and on that basis they suggested he should be a panto dame.
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00:00Good morning, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers. Now, a huge
00:06pleasure to speak to Dame Matt Rixon, who will be gracing our stage at the Mayflower
00:11Theatres, Hampton. And you were saying a funny thing just now about when you first did Dame,
00:16someone looked at you and said, Matt's tall and a funny shape, he'd be a good Dame. Is
00:21that really what it came down to?
00:25Pretty much, yes. Yes, my funny shape cast me as a Dame.
00:32What did you take to Damehood like a duck to water?
00:38Well, I'd like to think so. I mean, it's certainly a skill and one learns, and I'm still learning,
00:46really. So I hope, I mean, I hope I was good that first time, but I hope I'm much better
00:51now.
00:52What's the essence? What have you got to do to be a good Dame, do you think?
00:59You have a huge heart. I think we were discussing that a little earlier as well, Phil. You
01:06know, she's the centre of the family, the centre of the story. And so you've got to
01:12have a big heart. You've got to love her, she's got to be funny. She can also be naughty.
01:18Some of the tales, the Tales of Redemption as well, if you think of Mother Goose.
01:23And it's crucial that you are the mother of the show, of the audience, of everything.
01:30Absolutely. The sort of head of the family, yes.
01:33So that beard is going.
01:35This terrifying white, I just look like a trimmed Santa, don't I? But yes, this will
01:41be going, which is, I've had it for two years, I'm terrified to see my face.
01:47And you were saying very touchingly that back a few years ago at the Mayflower, you
01:51worked with one of the greatest Dames. You were at the Mayflower with Paul O'Grady.
01:55Yes.
01:56What did you learn from him?
02:01Well, I mean, he was just so easy on stage, easy to be with, but easy with the audience.
02:08It seemed effortless. It was like he was talking to one person, but you know, you can get over
02:152,000 in the Mayflower. And it was like he was holding a coffee morning in his living room.
02:22I think it was just the ease. He made it look so simple and personable.
02:30So I learned a lot from him. He was a very, very dear man.
02:33He was certainly brilliant on stage, wasn't he?
02:36Well, Matt, really lovely to speak to you. Have a great time in Southampton and
02:40happy Christmas. Thank you.
02:42And to you too, Phil. Thanks so much. Have a great Christmas.