Well Boys and Girls, we all know that everyone spends the approaching season in their own unique way.
Some start straight after their return from Trick or Treating, some are in the office avoiding forced social gatherings, some are prepared perfectly, others relish the chaos. For performers, the Christmas Season is basically exhausting. If you look at the box offices, you will notice that the eight show week doesn’t let silly things like national holidays get in the way. Oh no it doesn’t. In fact, most West End shows will make sure that extra matinees are squeezed in, and if Christmas Day falls on a usual day off….well It’s behind you! That was your day off! I’m not casting producers as the lead in A Christmas Carol…it’s fair enough. Lots of people are off work, wanting some joy, and a treat and to spend time with their family. Go and see a show! Travel is always one of the baddies for a cast member around Christmas… It’s hard to get anywhere, let alone back to your tour venue from your family home, or to central London without trains and tubes on boxing day.
But there is a special breed of performer or Turn. One that laughs in the face of perpetual exhaustion. One that has smile muscles the size of The Rock. One that will keep the Cheer until February if they are contracted to….The Panto Cast.
Panto have been huge in the UK since the Victorian era. There were fewer cast members from Coronation Street, but they were essentially the same! Their history connects with the history of all Drama. The V&A are ever stylish in their history lesson here
Any Turn (affectionate term for performer/dancer) will tell you that the singing and choreography in a Panto is demanding. Pop songs into double tours, flips and scene changes three times a day….oh Yes It Is! I have had the pleasure of being ensemble dancer in Panto….not the cute kid kind…the actual grown up, ‘this is my job’ kind. In fact, I’ve only ever done Peter Pan. You don’t get to pick and choose at certain stages of your career. At my Panto stages….I was cast in Peter Pan. Then in Peter Pan, and then another year, I was in Peter Pan. It was fun. Really really hard. But fun. Spending Christmas in a town you previously would have not noticed driving through, in digs (or a caravan one year), was fun. Shouting Happy Christmas & Happy New Year until actual February…fu n.
But OH YES IT IS AMAZING!!!!! It’s often the first experience a person has of live theatre. You get to show celebrities how much work the theatre is! You make life long friends. The audience it excited, nervous, free to shout out and eat noisy sweets. The smiles, cheers, screams, groans, wonder will always be worth it!
This year we are extracting the best bits of being in a Panto. The fun, the silliness, the freedom, the skill, and having a go at it all in our Panto School. We’ll show you how to create classic skits, genius slap stick routines, use puppets, sell a gag and break the fourth wall. I’ll even let you throw the odd custard pie! It’s just what we all need. For kids (and their carers who might be a little busy) getting ready for Christmas – send your happy villagers to us on the 20-22nd December to learn new skills and be really silly!
