The Extensive Production Behind Pantomime’s On-Stage Merriment

Across the nation, theatres are currently adorned with glitz, glamour, and glitter, marking the arrival of pantomime season. These traditional seasonal productions typically include a man portraying a woman, a principal boy and girl, numerous wigs in dressing rooms, vibrant sets and costumes, and skilled sound and lighting personnel. As this “bigger than ever” enterprise commences, the question arises: what is the full scope of effort required for its realization? Paul Hendy, representing Evolution Productions, oversees the production of 10 pantomimes nationwide, with venues in Dunstable, St Albans, Northampton, and Basildon among them. He stated, “Pantomime isn’t just for Christmas, it’s a 16-month process.” Mr. Hendy elaborated, “Throughout the year, we have a team of set builders sorting out scenes and props. It even starts the year before, so we’re already working on next year’s shows. It’s big business these days. Pantomime is the life blood of many theatres.” Mr. Hendy noted that for certain theatres, the revenue generated from pantomime box office sales during a four-week period constitutes 40% of their total annual income. He further commented, “It’s incredibly important to the theatres [and] secondary spends for towns and villages, revenue for parking, meals out – it has a knock-on effect.” He concluded, “They are now bigger than they have ever been. It’s genuinely West End standard, which takes a long time produce.” Daniel Bell, associated with KD Theatre Productions in Ely, Cambridgeshire, remarked, “The joy on stage is the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whirlwind of activity that goes on behind the scenes throughout the year.” He explained that “meticulous planning” occurs monthly to organize the six pantomimes he produces, which include shows in Harlow, Saffron Walden, Kettering, and Ely. The annual cycle for KD Theatre Productions involves props, costumes, and sets being returned to the company’s Ely store in January. February sees tickets become available for purchase and the commencement of casting for lead roles. Script development starts in March. By April, spring and summer pantomimes embark on tours, and rehearsal schedules along with marketing strategies are finalized with venues. Auditions are conducted in May, and cast contracts are confirmed by June. Photo shoots occur in July, “even in sweltering weather.” August is designated for a “well-deserved break,” followed by final auditions in September. Mr. Bell, who also performs, indicated that he stages pantomimes year-round. Easter pantomimes are gaining traction and serve to fill scheduling voids. He noted, “We adapt well-known adventures such as The Wizard of Oz or Treasure Island that may not usually be done at Christmas.” Emily Obasahan, 24, a stage manager with KD Productions, located in Harlow, Essex, has been involved with the production of Dick Whittington since the summer, a show that premiered at the Harlow Playhouse on 29 November. She commented, “Most people don’t know how much work goes into it. Panto is known as being really fun and silly, but the production values are really high.” Ms. Obasahan added, “With pantomime everything is 100%: sets, costumes, lighting, props, sounds, music – it’s actually a really technical show to work on.” She further explained, “It always feels different at Christmas as it feels a bit more magical and our audiences are families and children, which you don’t typically get in when working on other productions.” She concluded, “This is an introduction to theatre for a lot of people, so we have a great responsibility to make it a really enjoyable experience and make it special and magical. It’s the best job in the world.”