Newly-wed David Essex looks certain to set new box office records at Darlington Civic Theatre and talks to Viv Hardwick about saving the show by becoming the baddie in Peter Pan.

DAVID Essex not only came to the rescue of Darlington Civic Theatre’s pantomime this year, he went on to create an unusual piece of “oh yes he is”

history by becoming a Captain Hook who marries Peter Pan.

“I never thought he’d agree to do the show,” says Wallsendborn boss of pantomime producer Qdos, Michael Harrison. “I asked him at the Garrick Club if he’d fancy flashing a blade in Peter Pan and to my surprise he said ‘Yes, where is it?’ and he was keen on the idea of playing Darlington.

“With Dani Harmer (star of BBC’s Tracey Beaker) dropping out I needed a star name and David came to the rescue.”

Essex hit the headlines last week by marrying “in secret”

for the third time and did no harm at all to panto publicity.

His All The Fun Of The Fair musical co-star Susan Hallam- Wright, 37, was the envy of 63- year-old Essex’s entourage of loyal fans by becoming his latest leading lady.

Asked about the rules of engagement between the swordwielding Hook and flying Pan, Essex jokes: “I think it will get a lot of things out of our system.

She’s a terrific actress and a brilliant athlete as well so she’ll be flying around all over the place I’m sure.”

Sadly it wasn’t possible to ask the new Mrs Cook – Essex’s real name – about the subject because she was missing from the launch at Hurworth’s Rockliffe Hall Hotel. Rumour had it that a magazine deal surrounding the couple’s wedding meant the two weren’t being photographed together just yet.

The Civic and Scarboroughbased Qudos are celebrating a 25-year contract and signing up Essex is looking like a masterstroke with bookings already £57,000 ahead on 2009.

This isn’t the first time that Essex has played Hook – his debut was at Northampton – but he admits it’s rare for him to feel like a villain on stage.

“It’s going to make a change to be booed. I’m a big admirer of Michael (Harrison) because we did aspects of love together.

Michael called and asked me to do it and that’s the big reason I’m here,” says Essex who feels that panto is an important medium because it’s an important initiation to theatre.

“It certainly was for me as a kid. If they come to see something truthful and decent and moves them, there’s a chance they will come back and see more theatre, but it’s always under-rehearsed and manic at first,” he says, adding that he’s dreading working alongside the comedy pair of the Grumbleweeds, Robin Colvill and Graham Walker Essex, who tours regularly to the North-East, regards the region as “a terrific place”. “My father was stationed in Sunderland in the Second World War and he told me the people were always so warm and genuine and he’d walk into a pub as a soldier and was never allowed to buy a drink, and I brought that idea with me as I came up,” he says.

The area is likely to see a lot more of the singer in the next 12 months because Essex’s touring and West End hit musical, All The Fun Of The Fair, is likely to tour again next year and he’s currently shooting a film, Tribe, which stars his son Billy Christy-Cook – who is also playing a pirate in Peter Pan at Darlington. There’s also a new album due out in the spring.

For panto he’s already picked out the song Dangerous and sings a few words for my benefit “this guy’s dangerous to know”

before quipping “and a bit scared”. The Grumbleweeds are excited about taking on Peter Pan for the first time in 27 seasons of pantomime while Essex is keen for the pantomime to remain close to J M Barrie’s original work. “It’s important that there’s a certain amount of truth and magic for the children,” he says while Colvill also highlights the fascination that audiences have with the flying scenes.

“Whole families have been brought up with the ‘he’s flying’ idea in Peter Pan and we’re living proof,” he says.

Essex jokes that he won’t be flying but Harrison adds: “Susan as Peter Pan will be and Tinker Bell will be a laser light in the children’s nursery and then appear as an actress, probably using the roller skates idea.”

Essex says: “We’re looking more at a panto/musical production rather than doing jokes about Cillit bang.”

On the current speculation about the future of council-run theatres like the Civic, Essex says: “In the West End not many new productions materialise. They now come by virtue of a film and there is a lack of funding for new things coming through. People need to see things and experience journeys and if that’s not fun then it’s going to dwindle.”

Colvill adds: “Well there’s the internet and 600 channels on your TV, but it’s a contact-less technology.”

Essex comments: “...and there’s nothing better than the right relationship with the right audience.”

■ Peter Pan, Darlington Civic Theatre, December 4-January 16. Box Office: 01325-486-555 darlingtonarts.co.uk