Maureen's in the mood to play a baddie

Buy photos » Will she ever wake up? This year’s Palace Panto cast Paul Tate as Dame Nellie Night Nurse, Maureen Nolan as Carabosse, Zoe Nicole Adkin as Princess Belle and Steven Pinder as the King. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3912006MMR

AS A MEMBER of the all conquering Nolan Sisters, Maureen Nolan is used to being cheered by adoring fans.

But the singer turned actress admits she will be disappointed if she does not get enough boos when she appears on stage in this year's Palace Panto.

Maureen is playing the wicked Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty, the first time in her panto career she has taken on the role of the villain and despite her warm and likeable nature, she insists she can get audiences to hate her.

"All my sisters have played baddies as they have got older and people always say 'You can't be a baddie' but I can be bad, I'm an actress," she told the Standard.

"I'm really looking forward to it, the bad parts are more meaty and more of a challenge but I normally play the fairy godmother or something and all the kids adore me, so I'm going to have to get used to them booing me this year.

"The worst thing people could say to me is 'I couldn't see you as a baddie'. That would be an insult because I will play it bad, full blast, so if people say that then I'm not doing my job properly."

Over the last decade Maureen has carved out a growing reputation as an actress, playing leading roles in shows including Footloose, The Eva Cassidy Story and in Blood Brothers as Mrs Johnstone - a role also played by her sisters Bernie, Denise and Linda earning them all a place in the Guinness Book of Records in 2007.

But with 18 Panto appearances to her name it still has a special place in Maureen's heart and she is looking forward to linking-up with the rest of the cast, including Steven Pinder, who played Max Farnham in Brookside, and is appearing as the King.

"There's a great camaraderie amongst the cast, it's always like a family, that sounds a bit twee but it is, it has to be because you are in each other's pockets for at least six weeks," she said.

But fans of The Nolan Sisters will be reassured to know Maureen is not turning her back on singing altogether as this week they announced plans for one final tour next year, titled on their biggest hit.

"I wouldn't go back to slogging around clubs on my own and stuff but to get together with the girls and sing harmonies and do it properly is great," she said.

"I did my first play when I was 50 so it's come at the right time in my life and I'm just loving it. With musical theatre you get a chance to sing and dance and act, it's great. There's only so much bopping around to I'm In The Mood for Dancing you can do.

"We couldn't leave it out though, the reaction it gets makes it new every night. People are thrilled to hear it and so we're thrilled to sing it."

Sleeping Beauty takes place at the Palace Theatre between Monday to Sunday, December 3 to 30. Tickets cost from £16 for adults and £14 for children and senior citizens with various discounts available. Call the box office on 01527 65203 or visit www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk to book.

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