How pantomime rehearsals work

This week we get crazy. The show is being set up on stage and by the weekend we will have opening night.

Here’s how it works, in case you’re interested:

We had a week of rehearsals, putting the actors, dancers and kids through their paces so they now know the basics of the show, and we’ve also had the sound effects and songs learned. So after a day off, Monday is more running the whole show, ironing out any problems, and sorting what scenes don’t work well so we can make them slick (the thing with panto is it has to be quick and get a real rhythm going)

Tuesday is more of the same, except all props will be in place for the actors to use (that’s my job) and then from Wednesday we start the TECH.

Technical rehearsal tends to take about two days. Basically we go through every scene, sorting every lighting cue and scene change, which is no easy process. In that time i also have to learn how to operate this Giant!

Friday we have full on dress rehearsals, which will iron out any remaining issues with costume changes (usually that we don’t have enough time for quick changes!) and any little niggling problems. Saturday we have an ‘Open Dress Rehearsal’ or a Preview, with a small audience.

Saturday night, we open. Then it’s two shows every day except Mondays, Christmas Day, New Years Day, 2nd January, and we finish after the 7pm show on Sunday 9th January.

Boring? Not a bit of it. Trust me.

Any questions?