Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2007/January 2008 | Page 43

JOHN HANNAM

life

His behind you
By John Hannam

W

hitwell’s John Woodford loves
Christmas because it gives
him the chance to come out
of himself and put on his best dresses
and high heels. There’s no need to get too
alarmed. He’s quite safe and a real family
man. It’s simply because he’s the most
celebrated dame in Island pantomimes.
I could have been fooled because one of
his sons, Andrew, who is following dad
into local amateur dramatics, told me
there was a shed at the end of the garden
where father went to dress up and practice.
I couldn’t find it and suddenly realised
it was purely a little family mischief.
It is a fact that John’s delightfully
rustic father, Dave, a recently retired
long distance lorry driver, has never
watched his son perform live on stage.
He does know what goes on because he
discreetly watches the videos and DVDs.
John Woodford began acting at
Carisbrooke Grammar School before
joining the Niton Players, now the
Pepperpot Players. He played mainly
character parts for them but was
once cast as the juvenile lead.
When the family came along John took a
less active role but did make a comeback
by playing in pantomimes for the Don
Mills Variety Club. He’s come a long
way since being cast as an ugly sister
in a 1993 production of Cinderella.
Playing dame is not as easy as it
may look. In more recent years, both
in professional and amateur 6