I have literally had a life-long love of the Gaiety Theatre having performed there during every decade of my life (and there’s almost been five of those!).
The Gaiety Theatre is in my blood. My grandmother, Gladys Skillicorn was a founder member of the Manx Operatic Society and spent many years performing at the Gaiety (there is a seat on the front row of the circle endowed in her memory), and I still remember my first trip there to see “South Pacific” with the legendary Val Kissack playing Nellie Forbush in the 70s. Little did I realise that the next time that show would be on the Gaiety stage, I would be taking that role!
My own first performance on the stage was in a small prologue of a Christmas show, but then in 1981 I auditioned and won the part of Brigitta Von Trapp in the Manx Operatic’s “Sound of Music” and I never looked back…..I loved every second of being in the theatre, as cold and old as it was – the theatre mesmerised me in every way. Fast forward some 20 years, and I found myself as Maria Von Trapp for the Douglas Choral Union, and just this year my niece Evie Skillicorn played Louisa Von Trapp in the latest production of the musical - the third generation of Skillicorns to tread those boards and feel the magic of the Gaiety Theatre.
I’ve literally had some hair raising moments on the stage – particularly when the wig I was wearing as Julie Jordan was caught on the bottom of scenery which was being raised during Val Kissack’s rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in Carousel, and as the scenery moved upwards, so did my hair! I’ve almost burnt the theatre down when, in a scene in “My Fair Lady”, whilst throwing some books as Eliza Doolittle, one book slid under the hot lights where it remained unseen until someone could smell burning…..I’ve almost killed a member of the orchestra when, whilst hurling plant pots as Kate in “Kiss Me Kate”, one pot went flying off the stage into the orchestra pit…..every production has had its memorable moments. There have been too many to mention – and they are all special.
Since those first tentative performances as a child, I’ve sang, danced, laughed, cried, kissed, fought, come up on the traps, flown across the stage, played to almost empty houses and stood on the stage in awe as a packed house gave a standing ovation. There is nowhere like the Gaiety Theatre. It has its own unique and wonderful sounds and smells. The corridor from the dressing rooms to the amphitheatre still remains the scariest place in the world to me – yes, I’m certain it’s haunted….and now that I have the privilege of working within the Villa Gaiety complex I can’t believe how lucky I am.
Happy birthday Gaiety Theatre from one of your biggest fans!