Director dishes secrets of a pantomime

Sunday 06 January 2019

It comes back every year and is a family tradition for many, yet most people don’t know how a pantomime actually comes to be.

It may not appear as such, but it takes a lot of work - so much that many directors shy away from taking the reins.

Luckily, Debbie Taylor doesn't scare easily and has taken on the role of Director for the Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club's (JADC) latest panto, 'The Sleeping Beauty'.

Having previously directed pantomimes in the UK, Debbie jumped on the opportunity to direct her first for the JADC.

The Sleeping Beauty' is described as "a traditional pantomime containing all the elements of this much-loved fairy tale, with some novel additions and a little bit of magic". But what exactly is "a traditional panto"? Debbie says it's all about family fun, so you need "dancing, some slapstick humour – water being thrown, custard pies – and corny jokes, some of them on two levels".

Pictured: There's no good panto without some dancing, a bit of slapstick humour and lots of singing.

"It needs to be fast-paced, with lots of singing, bright colours," she adds. "It can’t drag too much, it has to be spirited. You also need a good baddie!"

The difficulty with a panto inspired by a story is always striking the right balance between telling the story without straying too far. This is why picking the right script is a crucial part - if not the most important one - of the job. Debbie says that there are a lot of good scripts out there. 

"The last couple of years we used scripts from Gareth Thomas and Ian Barette, which were fantastic," she explained. "This year it wasn’t possible so I chose ‘The Sleeping Beauty’. I had performed in it myself as the Wicked Fairy so I had the script at home. It's very good, and there are lots of songs written into it."

Pictured: Princess Beauty (Megan_Barette) and Prince Handsome (Jenny_Glennon) are ready to take the stage.

Once the script is picked, the director needs to get a production team together - the backbone of the panto. There are a lot of people involved in the production team, including a musical director, a voice coach, a choreographer, someone to look after costumes, set constructors, painters, as well as lighting and sound technicians and a publicity whizz.

Yet, picking the right producer is especially important as they have responsibility for the oversight of the creative input. Debbie says she is "very lucky" to have her husband as her producer. "We work very well together and I know he keeps all in order. The producer heads the production team and makes sure they keep on time."

Once the production team is up and running, it's time to choose all the songs. "Then there are the auditions, scheduling the rehearsals, [and] the actual rehearsals," Debbie explains. "It takes a lot of time. I probably started in July, after we finished Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It’s a big job, but it’s lovely to see it all come together."

Pictured: There are 42 actors in 'The Sleeping Beauty.'

This year’s panto has a cast of 42 actors - some young and others less young. Following tradition, Debbie says it will make everyone laugh thanks to a bit of local humour. 

“Most adults come with children but we also see the older generation coming as a group. There needs to be something for everyone. But I do think that pantomime is a bit like Marmite - you either love it or hate it!”

If you are itching to meet Princess Beauty (Megan Barette), her mother Queen Gigglebelly, who can’t stop giggling, and her father King Rumbletum who loves food, or even Nurse Pinchme (Ian Barette), get to the Arts Centre between 9 to 20 January.