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Panto: 'Joy on stage is the tip of the iceberg'

KD Theatre Productions A pantomime dame on stage, with their arms outstretched and their mouth open. The dame has bright-red lipstick on and is wearing a pirate's hat with a parrot on it, a bright red wig, and a red dress with white frills. KD Theatre Productions
Pantos are performed at other times of year too - KD Theatre Productions staged Treasure Island in the spring and summer

Theatres up and down the country are full of glitz, glamour and glitter, as it is now pantomime season. Oh yes it is!

The seasonal shows feature a man dressed as a woman, a principal boy and girl, dressing rooms full of wigs, colourful sets and costumes - and expert sound and lighting crews.

As the curtain rises on this "bigger than ever" business, just what does it take to make it all happen?

Pamela Raith Photography The cast of Peter Pan on stage, showing a colourful scene of dancers and performers, dressed like mermaids and mermen, in deep purple colours. Peter Pan is behind them flying with his hands on his hips. Pamela Raith Photography
A scene from the All New Adventures of Peter Pan, staged in 2023 at the Alban Arena, St Albans

Paul Hendy, from Evolution Productions, is behind 10 pantomimes being staged across the country, including shows in Dunstable, St Albans, Northampton, and Basildon.

"Pantomime isn't just for Christmas, it's a 16-month process," he said.

"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."

He said for some theatres, the panto box office takings during a four-week run account for 40% of what they take all year.

Mr Hendy added: "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.

"They are now bigger than they have ever been. It's genuinely West End standard, which takes a long time produce."

KD Theatre Productions Daniel Bell on stage with another performer in the panto Treasure Island. He is on the left and is wearing a cap, which he has on backwards, a waistcoat, striped top and trousers. His fellow performer, on the right, is dressed as the pirate Captain Hook. He has a black hat, long hair, a beard, a jacket, white shirt, red cummerbund and a green jacket. The set behind them is out of focus, but it appears to be a pirate ship.KD Theatre Productions
Daniel Bell (left) performed in Treasure Island, which toured the country in March, April, May, June and August

Daniel Bell, from KD Theatre Productions, based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, said: "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 said "meticulous planning" happened every month to put together the six pantomimes he is behind, including Harlow, Saffron Walden, Kettering and Ely.

KD Theatre Productions A pantomime set being built, it shows a castle, with brown bricks, purple turrets, and props around it. You can see other parts of sets behind it and a ladder to the left. KD Theatre Productions
The KD Theatre production teams start planning which sets and costumes they will need as early as March

In January, the props, costumes and sets return to the company's Ely store. In February, tickets go on sale and casting for the lead roles begins.

Script work starts in March. In April, spring and summer pantomimes go on tour and rehearsal schedules and marketing plans with venues are confirmed.

In May, auditions take place and by June cast contracts are confirmed. In July photo shoots take place, "even in sweltering weather".

In August, there is a "well-deserved break" and in September final auditions are held.

Mr Bell, who is also a performer, said he staged pantos throughout the year. Easter pantos are growing in popularity - and helping to fill programming gaps.

"We adapt well-known adventures such as The Wizard of Oz or Treasure Island that may not usually be done at Christmas," he said.

William Deady Emily Obasahan sitting at the stage manager's station in the theatre. She has a headset on and is wearing a white top with a dark jacket and a gold necklace. Her hair is tied back, and she is smiling. She has a folder with instructions in front of her. There are rows of empty burgundy theatre seats behind her. William Deady
Emily Obasahan is the stage manager for the panto Dick Whittington, which runs until 5 January at the Harlow Playhouse

Emily Obasahan, 24, a stage manager with KD Productions, based in Harlow, Essex, has been working on Dick Whittington. which opened at the Harlow Playhouse on 29 November, since the summer.

"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.

"With pantomime everything is 100%: sets, costumes, lighting, props, sounds, music - it's actually a really technical show to work on.

"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.

"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."

KD Theatre Productions A row of colourful costumes on a rack in a dressing room, on hangers. They have fur and sequins on them, with a chair to the right. There is a lighting box to the right, higher up.KD Theatre Productions
The costumes take many months to design and make

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