Catherine Tate Post
Catherine Tate surprised by Daleks and loving the stage
Award winning writer and comedian, Catherine Tate, is winning rave reviews for her performance in Alan Ayckbourn's Seasons Greetings at The National Theatre.
The actress, who is also famous for saving the Universe as Doctor Who's assistant, told Andrew Marr she would "love" to do more stage work.
She also shared that she once had a "fright" from the Daleks on the set of Doctor Who.
Little Crackers: Catherine Tate
1976 - St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School is preparing for its Nativity play, but there
isn’t a part for one very shy six-year-old girl. Young Catherine Tate would rather wet herself in class
than put her hand up to ask to go to the toilet. When Catherine’s mum learns of her daughter’s omission from the cast she persuades Sister Mary Bernadette that Catherine’s talents as an impressionist need to be seen. When the young performer is given a role in the production, the song she chooses to sing doesn’t quite fit the traditional Nativity theme...
What attracted you to Little Crackers?
Being able to direct was a big thing for me and, to be honest, what really drew me to it was the fact that
it’s 12 minutes long. I like to be able to do things in manageable chunks. Directing was a new challenge so
it became a really interesting and exciting thing to do.
How did you find the experience of directing?
It was a bit like a baptism of fire because until you do it you don’t really know what it’s going to be like. I had no idea how to prep for directing. I don’t know whether I was wise or unwise to not ask other directors what they do, but I’m pleased I didn’t because at least it’s mine and I can stand by it and I can’t pass the buck. I had a fantastic director
of photography and assistant director. I was very lucky.
Would you direct again?
I would, but I doubt I’d be in it as well because it’s too stressful. If you write it, I think it makes sense to direct if you can because you have a vision of how it should look. I don’t think I’d ever know how to direct anyone else’s writing. I’d write something and be in it again, but I’d let someone else direct. But then once you get a taste for the control - and I do like a little bit of control - it sits quite well. Every decision needs to be run past you, and I like that because you are entirely accountable for what goes on.
Did you find any truth in the old saying ‘never work
with children’?
Not at all. And it would be incredibly hard to make this film without them considering it’s based on a six-yearold me. We’d have to find a very young-looking adult! The children we were working with were fabulous and Madeleine Power who plays me is fantastic. She’s a proper little gem.
How do you explain to a six-year-old today about performing as Gary Glitter?
You have to say ‘this is a funny man, look at the way he sings’. It was a more innocent time we were recreating, I’m pleased to say.
Did performing as Gary Glitter conquer your shyness?
No, not really. I was always very shy as myself in public, very uninhibited at home and very uninhibited when I put on a costume and became someone else. Gaining the insight that I could make people laugh did help my shyness though. It’s all about control. If I can make you laugh, I can control you. You shall be mine.
Gary Glitter was your first Nativity experience. Did you have any more?
No, I don’t remember any more. Maybe the Nativity ended in my school after me. They were probably
worried about what other debauchery would take place.
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
It’s probably Christmas television. Event TV. It goes back to being young and getting the double edition of
both the Radio Times and the TV Times. It was a time when there was only three or four channels and it was really exciting, there were so many films.
So how has it felt when you’ve been in the Christmas TV mags?
Since I’ve been on the telly I’ve stopped reading about it as much. But I remember the Christmas I did
my first Doctor Who and I was driving, late at night, and all the posters I passed were Evening Standard
ones of me and David Tennant. I couldn’t believe that I was on Christmas television.
What was your most memorable Christmas present?
My mum always says the best reaction I gave was not to the big boxes and expensive presents, it was to a gingerbread man she told me Father Christmas had kept for me.
Do you have a favourite Christmas cracker joke?
Who’s the bane of Father Christmas’s life? The elf and safety officer!
Source
Source
Award winning writer and comedian, Catherine Tate, is winning rave reviews for her performance in Alan Ayckbourn's Seasons Greetings at The National Theatre.
The actress, who is also famous for saving the Universe as Doctor Who's assistant, told Andrew Marr she would "love" to do more stage work.
She also shared that she once had a "fright" from the Daleks on the set of Doctor Who.
Click to viewLittle Crackers: Catherine Tate
1976 - St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School is preparing for its Nativity play, but there
isn’t a part for one very shy six-year-old girl. Young Catherine Tate would rather wet herself in class
than put her hand up to ask to go to the toilet. When Catherine’s mum learns of her daughter’s omission from the cast she persuades Sister Mary Bernadette that Catherine’s talents as an impressionist need to be seen. When the young performer is given a role in the production, the song she chooses to sing doesn’t quite fit the traditional Nativity theme...
What attracted you to Little Crackers?
Being able to direct was a big thing for me and, to be honest, what really drew me to it was the fact that
it’s 12 minutes long. I like to be able to do things in manageable chunks. Directing was a new challenge so
it became a really interesting and exciting thing to do.
How did you find the experience of directing?
It was a bit like a baptism of fire because until you do it you don’t really know what it’s going to be like. I had no idea how to prep for directing. I don’t know whether I was wise or unwise to not ask other directors what they do, but I’m pleased I didn’t because at least it’s mine and I can stand by it and I can’t pass the buck. I had a fantastic director
of photography and assistant director. I was very lucky.
Would you direct again?
I would, but I doubt I’d be in it as well because it’s too stressful. If you write it, I think it makes sense to direct if you can because you have a vision of how it should look. I don’t think I’d ever know how to direct anyone else’s writing. I’d write something and be in it again, but I’d let someone else direct. But then once you get a taste for the control - and I do like a little bit of control - it sits quite well. Every decision needs to be run past you, and I like that because you are entirely accountable for what goes on.
Did you find any truth in the old saying ‘never work
with children’?
Not at all. And it would be incredibly hard to make this film without them considering it’s based on a six-yearold me. We’d have to find a very young-looking adult! The children we were working with were fabulous and Madeleine Power who plays me is fantastic. She’s a proper little gem.
How do you explain to a six-year-old today about performing as Gary Glitter?
You have to say ‘this is a funny man, look at the way he sings’. It was a more innocent time we were recreating, I’m pleased to say.
Did performing as Gary Glitter conquer your shyness?
No, not really. I was always very shy as myself in public, very uninhibited at home and very uninhibited when I put on a costume and became someone else. Gaining the insight that I could make people laugh did help my shyness though. It’s all about control. If I can make you laugh, I can control you. You shall be mine.
Gary Glitter was your first Nativity experience. Did you have any more?
No, I don’t remember any more. Maybe the Nativity ended in my school after me. They were probably
worried about what other debauchery would take place.
What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
It’s probably Christmas television. Event TV. It goes back to being young and getting the double edition of
both the Radio Times and the TV Times. It was a time when there was only three or four channels and it was really exciting, there were so many films.
So how has it felt when you’ve been in the Christmas TV mags?
Since I’ve been on the telly I’ve stopped reading about it as much. But I remember the Christmas I did
my first Doctor Who and I was driving, late at night, and all the posters I passed were Evening Standard
ones of me and David Tennant. I couldn’t believe that I was on Christmas television.
What was your most memorable Christmas present?
My mum always says the best reaction I gave was not to the big boxes and expensive presents, it was to a gingerbread man she told me Father Christmas had kept for me.
Do you have a favourite Christmas cracker joke?
Who’s the bane of Father Christmas’s life? The elf and safety officer!
Source
Source