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BIOGRAPHIES

Denise has a full Panto history, complete with many photographs of each production on her main desktop site This simplified version gives main details.

The 1980's saw Denise debut in Pantomime. Her first, in Hull, had her in third billing with Peter Goodwright & Terry Halll (With Lenny The Lion) taking the lead. Denise was very nervous for lots of reasons. She was the first of the Nolan Sisters to star in in panto and many eyes were on her.  The video of the perfromance shows Denise with strong vocals, although Denise says that she can hear her own nerves in her voice. The show came complete with a twelve piece orchestra. Something that became much rarer in Pantomimes the country over. It's interesting to note that the show ran almost into February! Throughout the 1980's Denise starred as Snow White four times. A role she went onto reprise FIFTEEN times throughout her panto career.


1980
HULL
New Theatre
Cinderella
December 19th 1980 - January 27th 1981

Starring
Terry Hall & Lenny The Lion
Denise Nolan
Peter Goodright - Buttons
Wanda 'n' Star - Ugly Sisters

1981
MANCHESTER
Tameside Theatre
Snow White
December 7th 1981 - January 28th 1982

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Terry Hall & Leeny The Lion - Buttons
Peter Goodright - Prince Charming
Chris Byrne - Henchman

1982
NORWICH
Norwich Theatre Royal
Snow White
December 12th 1982 - January 23rd 1983

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Christophe Cazanove - Prince Charming
Carol Lee Scott - Wicked Queen

1983
BRADFORD
Alhambra Theatre
Cinderella
December 1st 1983 - January 30th 1984

Starring
Denise Nolan - Cinderella
Russ Abbot - Muddles
Dustin Gee - Ugly Sister
Les Dennis - Ugly Sister
Blayne Barrington - Dame Trott

1984
BELFAST
New Vic Theatre
Snow White
December 14th 1984 - February 10th 1985

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Bobby Bennett - Muddles
More Cast TBC

1985
LIVERPOOL
Empire Theatre
Snow White
November 29th 1985 - January 16th 1986

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Stan Boardman - Muddles
Ronnie Cryer - Dame Do - Nut
Barry Usher - Henchman
Derek Richards - Prince Danilow

1986
LONDON
Princess Theatre Wimbledon
Jack & The Beanstalk
December 1st 1986 - January 19th 1987

Starring
Harry Worth - The King
Anita Harris - Jack
Denise Nolan - Princess
David Griffen (Hi De Hi) - Push
Linda Regan (Hi De Hi ) - Shove
Robin Asquith - The Town Crier
Harry Gosney - Jack's Mum

1987
SOUTHEND
Cliffs Pavillion Theatre
Snow White
December 1st 1988 - January 17th 1989

Starring
Denise Nolan - Alice Fitzwarren
Davy Jones (The Monkees) Dick Whittington
Brian Marshall - Idle

1988
SOUTHEND
Cliffs Pavillion Theatre Southend
Snow White
December 1st 1988 - January 17th 1989

Starring
Denise Nolan - Alice Fitzwarren
Davy Jones (The Monkees) Dick Whittington
Brian Marshall - Idle Jack


1989
BUXTON
Opera House
Cinderella
December 14th 1989 - January 6th 1990

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Melvin Hayes - Buttons




The 1990's began to see a new style with Pantomimes. Many Australian actors came over to star in productions of UK Panto's. The success of soap operas such as Neighbours and Home and Away saw to that. Denise carried on starring in Panto in major theatres across the UK. Denise had the pleasure of working alongside TV's Gladiator "Hunter". Many of these stars had little or no experience of Panto and the hard work that comes with the productions. Denise enjoyed working with people from all walks of public life.

1990
SOUTHEND
Snow White
Cliffs Pavillion Theatre Southend
14th December 1990 - 13th January 1991

Starring
Keith Harris With Orville - Muddles
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Cornelia Francis (Home & Away) - Queen Esmerelda
Hugo Nyalty - Henchman

Director - Denis Chritchley.

1991
REDHILL
Snow White
Harlequin Theatre Redhill
December 3rd 1991 - January 12th 1992

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White

1992
MANSFIELD
Snow White
Theatre Royal Mansfield
Deember 11th 1992 - January 12 1993

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
Tom O'Connor
Tony Pitts (Emmerdale) The King's Cousin
Freddie Stevens
Super Mario
Janine Dale
Gareth Steven


1993
DARTFORD
Snow White
Orchard Theatre Dartford
December 9th 1993- January 23rd 1994

Starring Denise Nolan - Snow White
Leslie Grantham - Henchman
More cast TBC

1994
BOURNEMOUTH
Snow White
Pavillion Theatre,
December 15th 1994 - January 22nd 1995

Starring
Denise Nolan - Alice Fitzwarren
Maggie Moone - Dick Whittington
Mike Osman - The Mate
Paul Shane - Cook
Derek Martin - The Captain
Peter Goodwright - Alderman Fitzwarren
Gudren Ure - (Supergran) - Superfairy
Eli Woods - Cringe
Tim Butcher - Emperor Of Morocco

1995
NO PANTO - DENISE WORKED ON A CRUISE SHIP OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD
1996
SHREWSBURY
Snow White
Music Hall Theatre
December 6th 1996 6th - January 17th 1997

Starring
Denise Nolan - Cinderella
Ray Meagher - Baron Hardup
More Cast TBC

1997
PAIGNTON
Alladin
Palace Theatre
December 2nd 1997 - February 9th 1998

Starring
Denise Nolan - Alladin
Don Maclean - Widow Twankey
Masachi Fujimoto - The Emporor
John Challis - Abanazar
Bobby Davro - Genie

1998
TORQUAY
Snow White
Riviera Theatre Torquay
December 3rd 1998 - January 17th 1999

Starring
Denise Nolan - Snow White
More cast TBC

1999
OXFORD
Snow White
Apollo Theatre Oxford
December 6th - January 16th 2000

Starring Denise Nolan - Queen Malevola
Hunter (Gladiators) - Prince Charming
Aiden J Harvey - Muddles
Jon Gaunt - Henchman
Jo Roberts - Snow White



The 2000's brought something new and fabulous for Denise to try - the baddie! She was, and to some extent, still is, apprehensive about playing the baddie. She acknowledges that the crowd are going to boo and hiss, but this was something that Denise is never 100% prepared for. She does enjoy being applauded and for an entertainer to be booed as soon as they walk onstage is difficult. The rewards is at the end of the performance when people relaise that the baddie always turns good and her applause is usually a spontaneous roar. Everyone loves a baddie and Denise has become one of the baddest of them all. In between these roles Denise has enjoyed playing Fairy Godmother too, which is a sweet role to play. The chance to wear a lovely gown is something that Denise also thoroughly enjoys. Transistion is a key to an enduring place in the World of Panto. Denise has played the younger parts and when the time was right it was only natural that she move onto more challenging, age appropriate roles.

2000
NO PANTO THIS YEAR DENISE WAS IN THE WEST END, LONDON STARRING IN BLOOD BROTHERS

2001
WORTHING
Connaught Theatre
12th December 2001 - 13th January 2002
Jack & The Beanstalk

Starring
Denise Nolan - Jack
Mark Little - Silly Billy
Melvyn Hayes - Dame Daisy
tom Cotcher - Giant's Henchman

2002
NO PANTO THIS YEAR - DENISE IS TSTARRING IN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF BLOOD BROTHERS

2003
TELFORD
Snow White
Oakengates Theatre
19th Decemebr 2003 - 14th January 2004

Starring
Denise Nolan - Queen Malevola
Peter Simon - Muddles
Katie Fury - Snow White
Chris Rankin (Harry Potter) - Queen's Henchman
John Bremman - Dame Dolly Dumpling

2004
NO PANTO THIS YEAR - DENISE IS TSTARRING IN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF BLOOD BROTHERS

2005
PORTHCAWL
Snow White
Grand Pavillion
Monday 19th December 2005 - January 8th 2006

Starring
Denise Nolan - Wicked Queen
Bernard Latham - Herman The Henchman
Vicky Davis - Snow White
Terry Gleed - Pickles
John Bremner - Dame Gladys Dumpling
Nia Collier - Woodland Fairy

2006
REDHILL, SURREY
Sleeping Beauty
Harlquin Theatre Redhill, London
13th December 2006 - 31st December 2007

Starring
Denise Nolan - Queen Malevola
Peter Simon - Muddles
Jaqueline Botswain (Grange Hill) Fairy
Peter Jamieson - King Crumbles
Peter Dayson - Nurse Tilly Trot

2007
BROXBOURNE
Snow White
Civic Theatre
13th December 2007 - 5th January 2008

Starring
Denise Nolan - Queen Grizelda
Jez Edwards (CBBC) Muddles
Chris Rankin - Percy The Henchman
Hannah Spicer - Snow White
Peter John - Dame Dolly Dumpling

2008
BUXTON
Cinderella
Opera House Buxton
December 6th 2008 - January 12th 2009

Starring
Denise Nolan - Fairy Godmother
Ciara Janson (Holyoaks) - Cinderella
Phil Gallagher (CBBC) Buttons
Mark Kempner - Baron Hardup
Duncan Wigman - Prince Charming
Andy Spiegal - Ugly Sister Cherie
Michael Duncan - Ugly Sister Camilla
Kevin Kemp - Dandini

2009
NO PANTO THIS YEAR - DENISE DECIDED TO STAY AT HOME




The last few years has seen panto change in many ways. Many would argue that it not for the better. Paul Holman Productions who have looked after Denise for many years have not followed the trend of having reality stars with zero acting skills or  ex MPs for their pantos. They have remained true to the art and continue to invest in some of the newest talent around. They have used for example, stars who have emerged from 'Britain's Got Talent' or the 'X Factor'. Many of these people have lots of experience but have not had the breaks. This is great way for new talent to gain more experience in Panto. Of course the leading names still continue to shine in pantomime and it is a job that denise relishes. She has grown as an artist herself. From playing the girly parts of Snow White and Cinderella to a graceful Fairy Godmother, or the baddest, meanest, campest Wicked Queen in the business. There is simply no one to match her!

2010
BRIDLINGTON
Snow White
Spa Theatre
15th December 2010 - 4th January 2011

Starring
Denise Nolan - Queen Griselda
Dan Singh (Gladiators) - Henchman
Ian Ganderton - Dame Dolly Dumpling
Lisa Kelsey - Snow White
Jonathan Eio - Prince Charming
Ricky K - Muddles


2011
LEEDS
Carriageworks Theatre
Beauty & The Beast

Starring
Denise Nolan - Witch Hazel
Jez Edwards - Muddles


2012
BROXBOURNE
Civic Theatre
Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

14th December 2012 - 5th January 2013

Starring

Denise Nolan - Wicked Queen
John Wilding (X Factor) - Prince Valliant
Victoria Scott - Snow White
Ross Lee - Herman The Henchman
Michael Otton - Pickles
Kieth 'Appy Hopkins - Dame Kitty Dumpling

2013

Denise decided not to take part in Panto in 2013/14

2014
LOWESTOFT
Marina Theatre
Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

14th December 2012 - 5th January 2013

Starring

Denise Nolan - Wicked Queen
Jon Moses - Prince Charming
Philip Green (Britain's Got Talent) - The Henchman
Rik Gaynor - Muddles
Georgina Phillips - Snow White
John Standerline - Dame Dolly Dumpling

2015

Denise decided not to take part in Panto in 2015/16









 
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