Lots of amateur theatre groups up and down the country put on Pantomimes every year and many are generally well attended. With increasing popularity of the large regional and mid scale professional pantomimes, how can you keep on top of the game with your pantomimes?
Include children, and lots of them
Junior cast members are an integral part of the cast of any pantomime. Not only do they provide a great bed of talent for the whole group but they also bring a really enthusiasm and happiness to the whole process of rehearsals which can often be stressful. Children also have a wider network of people who want to come and see them in the show, so it’s good for ticket sales too.
Pick your pantomime around your cast
Holding open auditions and casting the net far and wide will help you secure a top class local cast for your pantomime script. There’s often lots of local talent on offer and if you pick your script around a cast which you’re 99% sure you can fulfil then you’re one step closer to a more professional production, and you’re not left scraping the barrel and searching for cast members.
Artistic Continuity
Many amateur pantomimes have home made set and costumes, often made with help from local tradesmen and businesses etc. One great way of improving the quality of your panto is by taking inspiration from the many professional pantos around by having a continuous style and vision for the design of your piece. For example, some pantos have a very story-book style set, bright and colourful and some have more intricate detailing and ‘inside jokes’. Consider a strict colour palette and some design motifs such as coats of arms which you can sprinkle throughout the set and costumes. If you can bring your style in together, it will look more professional.
Pick a good script
There are lots of options when picking your amateur pantomime script and there are plenty of professional writers who each have their own versions of the traditional panto stories. A good script will have a strong structure with front of tab scenes and larger full-sets, a heap of comedy and all the traditional aspects that audiences expect from a pantomime- the dame, the baddie, the comic/comedy duo, a strong morale grounding and lots of room for your music choices. My scripts always have a hint of adventure and flexible customisation too so that everyone in the family is kept entertained, and you have the flexibility you need to produce the script within your chosen venue.
Deliver with pace and energy
One of the most frequent complaints I hear regarding bad productions is a lack of pace and energy. Drill your actors to pick up their cues quickly to remove silence on stage in-between lines, and practice throwing the lines and comedy with enough energy to reach all the way to the back of the auditorium. This will bring your piece alive with pace (not speed- there is a distinct difference) and good line delivery to get that extra sparkle. Strong, clear, paced delivery makes for a good show and funny scenes. You don’t need to be Judi Dench, just strong and clear. If you’ve picked a good script, that should do the rest of the work.
If you can tick these 5 things off your to-do list, you’re in good stead for a successful show, and most importantly, one that audiences will want to come and see again next year!
