Berwick’s a miniature hero

8:00am Saturday 1st November 2008

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BERWICK Kaler has been cut down to size for his latest role.

This year marks his 30th anniversary as York Theatre Royal’s pantomime dame, a landmark now immortalised in his transformation into a fine bone porcelain candle snuffer in a limited edition of only 300 at Mulberry Hall, in Stonegate.

“It’s an honour to rank with my doctorate from the University of York and being made a freeman of the city,” said Berwick.

“And to think I will be useful at last! Frankie Dettori [the Italian jockey] was the last person to be honoured in this way.

“They usually do Dickensian figures for candle snuffers and then suddenly they decided to do Frankie, and bless their hearts, because they all love and support the pantomime at Mulberry hall, Adam Sinclair asked me to be the next one.”

Mr Sinclair, Mulberry Hall’s managing director, explained his bestowal of this novel honour: “Berwick is much loved in York, with many thousands of people flocking to see his inimitable antics every year.

“As Berwick lights up Christmas is York, I like the irony of the candle snuffer. It’s unique and cleverly detailed, just like the pantomime itself. I’m pretty certain he’s the only panto dame with a porcelain figurine.”

In porcelain, Berwick is depicted as Dame Betty Turpin – his character in this winter’s Dick Turpin. The price is £198, and a proportion of the sale proceeds form each edition will go to York Theatre Royal.