Who, What, Why, Where & When - all you need to know about staging a pantomime.

Who

We work with everyone - whether you are a small amateur group or a large professional company we are delighted to help with your pantomime. We're passionate about pantomime and have years of experience writing, producing, acting, directing and generally being involved in all things panto - if you have a question or a problem then don't hesitate to ask - whatever it is, we've probably seen it before.

So, schools, youth groups, community theatre, amateur groups, scouts, guides, clubs and associations, professional companies and micro-theatres - we welcome everyone

What

What do you need for success? Just a desire to perform and a sense of humour - we can help with the practicalities and, with all our experience, we can guide you through everything from choosing a script to licensing, song choices and more. 

All our scripts contain hints and tips throughout - what songs might be useful, how to light, stage or create effects. Over the years we've learned to adapt and make the most of what we have rather than going for lots of expensive gadgets and effects and we're happy to help you too. Use our Contact Us page if you'd like a copy of our song suggestions, a perusal script or if there is anything at all that we haven't covered here. 

Why

Why do we do this or why choose a pantomime? Well, the answer to both those questions is basically the same - pantomime is inclusive, fun and forgiving. We learn from our mistakes and pantomime is safe space to learn to sing, dance, act and make those mistakes. Pantomime teaches team work, creativity, communication and collaboration. Pantomime casts of all ages share experiences and build friendships plus it's a great way to entertain people, an essential part of Christmas and all of our scripts can be tailored to your town or local area. 

Where

Pantomime can be performed anywhere - really! It doesn't need to be big budget (believe us, we have a tiny budget each year) it just needs to be colourful and fun . Audiences want to be entertained - they're not going to judge you by the number of backdrops you have. We truly believe that pantomime is one of the few art forms that really is accessible to everyone.  All ages and abilities, pantomime encourages creativity, humour, teamwork and flexibility. Worried that your village hall is too small? Don't be, give us a shout and we'll help - there is always a solution. 

When

When should I start planning? When should I ask for a script. Well, we start early in the year - here's a month by month quick guide to panto:

January/February - rest - Christmas is over, it's dark, cold and rainy, so put your feet up, take some time out and reflect on last year. If you really want to start, request a few perusal scripts and read them.

March/April - choose a script. How big is your cast? Do you have any real areas of strength (a couple of really talented teenagers or some excellent singers for example) - which script would suit them? Cinderella might be good if you have 2 strong male leads to play the ugly sisters or perhaps you want something sunny and upbeat with lots of parts for young people - My Big Fat Greek Cinderella is a good choice here. Consider your venue and budget as well. Ask for a quote for your fees or have a chat with us about what might be suitable.

May/June -start to assemble your production team. Who is going to be responsible for lights, sound, costumes, props, make up, staging and stage management, set design, ticket sales, marketing and publicity? An early meeting gets everyone thinking and also means you have lots of time to iron out any problems. Decide where and when you want to rehearse and book any spaces you need. 

July/August - it's holiday time, no one wants to think about Christmas and panto season. Take some time to percolate, advertise your auditions and relax before the madness starts.

September - audition, get your cast in place, have a read through, block the show and start rehearsals. Have a production meeting to talk about what is required. We have a master spreadsheet that contains everything - rehearsal schedule, cast list, scene list (who is in what), costume plot, lighting plot, sound effects, song list, links to back tracks, ticket sales tracking and budget monitoring. If it sounds daunting, give us a shout and we'll talk you through it.

October/November - continue with rehearsals, costume checks, have another production meeting to share ideas and make sure everyone is fully organised.

December/January - it's show time. Break a leg - all your hard work is finally going to pay off, your audience will have an amazing time and you'll inspire new people to take part in future. 

Check out our Song & Links page for more information on the songs we love to sing and the websites that we find the most helpful and cost effective.