An Audience with May McFettridge

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John Linehan is the person who knows her best: "May is a wee woman from north Belfast. She'll have nothing to do with any talk of transvestites and transsexuals. She has always been her own person and she still is. She's not silly enough to think that she's everyone's cup of tea. She just loves entertaining the people of Belfast. She's had offers to do shows across the water, but Belfast will not let her go." The Grand Opera House pantomime is staged by Olivier award-winning producer Michael Harrison on behalf of Crossroads Pantomimes, the biggest pantomime producer in the world. Michael also produces The London Palladium’s pantomimes, and his current show, The Wizard of Oz, is enjoying a sell-out run at the venue before it embarks on a UK and Ireland tour, which includes a week at the Grand Opera House in May 2024. As well as his faith, Jimmy is thankful for the support of his wife of 49 years, May, his daughter Katie, who has done stand-up and is an award-winning playwright, his son Dale, a hospice events fundraiser, daughter Jamie, who is a teacher in America, and son Frankie a parish priest in Salford. Northern Ireland’s biggest pantomime will once again be sponsored by Dale Farm, who are delighted to help share the joy of pantomime for another year. The appeal is obvious - May McFettridge brings a hilariously Northern Irish twist to whatever magical fairytale she's in. Cinderella could be looking for her lost slipper, and May might stumble onto the scene to tell an audience member they'd a face like a slapped arse. And we lap it up.

Musically, this Cinderella is sophisticated with a score that borrows freely from Mozart. There was also a magic, moving tree and a truly happy, well danced ending. If you want to know about transformations, this is for you. This Cinderella is a comic outing in the main, even though the story is uber-romantic. So we saw Buttons, the Prince and Cinders upending each other on a wall and doing a comedy routine which undercut the passion.

This year will be the Theatre’s biggest pantomime yet, with an incredible cast and creative team bringing Northern Ireland audiences spectacular entertainment, toe-tapping tunes, spellbinding dance moves, special effects, and much more”, commented Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House. I unwind by seeing the three grandkids – Johnny Linehan, who’s 24, and wee Eve Luney, who’s six, and her brother, wee Paul, who’s four. Johnny is very good at guitar and drums – so may become a musician. She was still at school at Our Lady of Mercy and I had just begun an apprenticeship in the motor trade. It was love at first sight for me, but she didn't fancy me at first. She finally put me out of my misery. We were the first two people to be dug out of the rubble. I was conscious throughout. I had big holes in my head, my thigh, my chest and my arm. Brenda was very badly hurt. I always say I was nearly shot by the IRA and blown up by the UFF. I have no favourites - I hate them all.

I've had it for 40 years. It was diagnosed after I burnt my arm on an exhaust pipe in a car. The injury went really deep, nearly as deep as the bone, and I didn't even know that I had burnt it. When I was cleaning the injury I knew that there was something wrong because there was no pain, so I got a doctor to look at it and I was diagnosed then. The most impressive illusion came when Cinders is transported to the Royal ball in a coach and horses, previously the pumpkin and mice, found in the kitchen. This was truly spectacular with the white steeds seeming to extend above and into the air above the audience. I was just so tired and had no appetite. I would have had 10 hours sound sleep, but by 11in the morning I was ready for my bed again, totally exhausted. I came out of my quarantine on the Wednesday and they shut the bars on the Friday,” he laughs. This is my 31st year, taking last year out and the year they bombed it. I do still get as much joy. And I actually still get nervous before every show, because it's always a unique audience - should it be a matinee in the middle of the week, or a Saturday night at Christmas Eve. The butterflies are still there. But I just get out on the stage and start. Once you see the front row laughing, you're flying." Who wouldn’t want to have their hand read by May McFettridge? Promoting her next show, a comedy titled Happy Medium, opening at the Alley Theatre in Strabane on April 13 then running at the Grand Opera House on April 18-22 followed by a tour.

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They had moved out to New Zealand with Eileen, their first-born, who had Down's syndrome. She lived until she was 64 years old. She was well looked after and she was a great child. We were told the world was being put on pause for four weeks. And here we are nine months later and I haven't a clue what bubble is what bubble.” Known for ruthlessly roasting pantomime audiences, attendees at the Grand Opera House should be aware that - thanks to May - they might find themselves the centre of attention if she catches your eye....