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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 11:26:28 GMT
Apart from Al and Clive who else is in the Wimbledon Panto Liam Tamne's Jack and Charlotte Gooch is the Princess. Robyn Mellor is Spirit of the Beans. John Jack is Fleshcreep. Thanks Very Much for that |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 13:23:51 GMT
Went to the Qdos panto in Belfast a couple of days ago. It is Peter Pan this year. Wasnt the greatest. The cast were great, and did their best with the material.
Personally dont really think Peter Pan is the right for panto, I'd rather just have the story as it was originally written (or in Goes Wrong form).
But gotta love our local dame, May McFettridge, she has the great talent of picking on the audience.
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Post by bimse on Dec 11, 2017 18:27:22 GMT
Personally dont really think Peter Pan is the right for panto I agree. It's an odd choice, as it is very "story-heavy" and doesn't have much potential for crazy set pieces like normal panto. The Regent's Park Open Air version is definitive on that one, I'd say - can't wait for May to see it again. Peter Pan never seems to work as a pantomime for me, especially if they try to shoehorn in a Dame character in as Mrs Smee , or a Magic Mermaid character. It’s much better as a play, but then that’s how I remember Peter Pan from my childhood . |
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Post by Jon on Dec 12, 2017 2:59:46 GMT
Is Babes in the Wood still performed as a panto? I notice Robin Hood is in the panto staple which I admit I never saw when I was younger.
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Post by daniel on Dec 13, 2017 15:32:00 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed Jack and the Beanstalk at Wimbledon last night...seems that The Stage disagree, giving it just one star  |
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Post by daniel on Dec 13, 2017 16:02:34 GMT
Yet five stars on this blog:
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Post by shady23 on Dec 30, 2017 20:52:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 21:31:33 GMT
Anyone finding any recurring songs in this years pantos? I have seen four pantos this year and "How Far I'll Go" from Disney's Moana has appeared in three of the four.
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Post by crabtree on Dec 30, 2017 23:19:34 GMT
I've certainly been in the situation of no payment and having a panto pulled - how do producers keep getting away with it.
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Post by firefingers on Jan 1, 2018 16:01:24 GMT
A few thoughts from my panto this year after 40 plus performances.
I get the light up fairy wands, and swords, for fighting off the baddies. They've existed for donkeys' years. Lightsabers are a natural progression of swords I suppose so not too bizzare. But why oh why did my theatre sell light up ray guns? I don't think I have ever seen a panto use a gun except maybe Peter Pan, and even then we are talking old flintlock pistol kind of things. I was at an ATG house so assume it would be the same at the others across the country.
Also, are there audiences messier than a panto? Popcorn and ice cream everywhere by the end! Glad I not an usher. The stench of popcorn was making me feel a little nauseous by the end.
Still amazed the schedules producers are permitted to put panto actors/band members/crew members through. You can finish a show at 9pm on Christmas Eve 100s of miles from home, and still expected to be back for a 2pm on Boxing Day. No chance of a proper Christmas. Boxing day shows always have terrible audiences anyway, not in terms of numbers as they are always sold out, but the audiences are always full up with a Christmas's worth of food and arguments, the kids would rather be home with their new toys and DVDs, the cast are missing their friends and families... No fun for anyone that day.
Still nothing brings people in and makes them happy quite like panto.
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Post by Tibidabo on Jan 1, 2018 16:14:53 GMT
Boxing day shows always have terrible audiences anyway, not in terms of numbers as they are always sold out, but the audiences are always full up with a Christmas's worth of food and arguments, the kids would rather be home with their new toys and DVDs, the cast are missing their friends and families... No fun for anyone that day. You've hit the nail on the head here. When I used to chaperone pantos NONE of the kids wanted to perform on Boxing day, despite the organisers thinking it was one of the 'special' shows. They used to give each of the 3 teams of dancers either Christmas eve, Boxing day or the last show, thinking they were all equally special. To be honest, the only one they all really wanted to do was Press Night! We always go on Christmas eve. That's generally got a good atmosphere. |
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Post by shady23 on Feb 19, 2018 22:56:03 GMT
Really sad to hear another example of actors putting in the work and not getting paid Sounds like Denise Welsh was right to get out/get pushed out when she did. |
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Post by tonyloco on Jun 23, 2018 12:33:30 GMT
Reviving this thread for the 2018 pantomime season, I have just booked a seat for "Aladdin" at the Hackney Empire on 29 November taking advantage of the very generous Early Bird reductions for some performances if booked before 31 August, being £18.50 for seats otherwise £38 and £42.
This is the 20th anniversary of the Hackney Empire pantomime with the same team of creatives who have produced such outstanding results consistently year after year and, as an added bonus, Clive Rowe is returning to give his celebrated Widow Twanky. Clive Rowe's dame is the best ever! – oh no it's not! – oh yes it is! Do I hear Biggins and Gary Wilmot shouting me down? Oh no I don't! – Oh yes I do! Oh...…!
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Post by dontdreamit on Jun 23, 2018 14:14:09 GMT
Clive Rowe is fantastic, we saw him for years at the HE! I
Might book again for this year if he’s in it again.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2018 18:45:36 GMT
I wonder if Qdos wanted Clive Rowe back for one of their venues again this year but he decided to go back to hackney?
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 24, 2018 13:04:55 GMT
Glad I read this, I saw Rowe with Al Murray last year, was wonderful so will definitely book for this (NOT sitting anywhere near the front!)
I've already got a packed panto season though so I'll see how much I can take! The first one I booked was Aladdin at Wimbledon, Paul Merton is my favourite comedian and should be fantastic!
Then the Palladium of course, Julian Clary alone is worth the price for this one, though it will be a treat seeing Dawn French.
Lastly, Dick Whittinton at the Lyric. Not because of the actors, but actually because it's being written by Cariad Lloyd who is hilarious in Austentatious.
Phew! Just hope I won't get fatigue (Oh no I won't...)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 22:14:37 GMT
It's also been announced that Robert Lindsay will make his panto debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan in Richmond.
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Post by theatreian on Jun 25, 2018 21:21:32 GMT
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 25, 2018 21:37:05 GMT
A bit low rent for Birmingham I would say. Are QDOS running out of "stars"?
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Post by Jon on Jun 25, 2018 21:50:47 GMT
Robert Lindsay is a good coup for Richmond.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2018 23:43:27 GMT
I actually thought that Robert Lindsay would have been a better name for Birmingham as it has had a tradition of attracting big name debuts lately i.e. Joan Collins, Gok Wan, Jane McDonald, Marti Pellow, Beverly Knight and now Meera Syal or even the Palladium (had it been a title with a suitable role for him). Of course, location and other reasons would have been a factor.
But I agree, the Birmingham lineup is pretty 'meh' as it has been for a while now. But if I'm honest, I haven't been to the panto since 2012 with Brian Conley (after going for 10 or so years), and they keep getting good reviews so I can't criticize the casting choices that much. But it is great to see Matt Slack has now become the Hippodrome regular after seeing him many years ago.
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Post by Jon on Jun 25, 2018 23:53:19 GMT
I actually thought that Robert Lindsay would have been a better name for Birmingham as it has had a tradition of attracting big name debuts lately i.e. Joan Collins, Gok Wan, Jane McDonald, Marti Pellow, Beverly Knight, or even the Palladium (had it been a title with a suitable role for him). Of course, location and other reasons would have been a factor. I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 26, 2018 0:39:19 GMT
I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs. It is probably a combination of the two factors. QDOS will offer "stars" the panto and locations and the actors will decided if they want to do it in that location. Many big names will want to do panto near home so they can commute rather than stay in hotels and spend the Christmas period at home. I would suspect that is why Robert Lindsay is doing panto in Richmond because he can commute from home. The whole thing will be negotiated with some lesser names having less choice in the matter of location! |
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Post by theatreian on Jun 27, 2018 16:34:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 17:54:40 GMT
I wonder if the names can choose the places they do panto or if it decided by Qdos? Richmond and Wimbledon probably be more desirable if they're London based or live in the suburbs. It is probably a combination of the two factors. QDOS will offer "stars" the panto and locations and the actors will decided if they want to do it in that location. Many big names will want to do panto near home so they can commute rather than stay in hotels and spend the Christmas period at home. I would suspect that is why Robert Lindsay is doing panto in Richmond because he can commute from home. The whole thing will be negotiated with some lesser names having less choice in the matter of location! Some performers are linked to one theatre as they are a local draw, others will take the same panto around with often the same supporting cast - John Barrowman always has the Krankies. Joe Pasquale and the late Leslie Grantham did Smee and Hook for years in Peter Pan. I'd agree the bigger the star, the more sway they have. Many years ago they did a TV programme about the E and B pantos which Paul Elliott produced and we saw some discussion about who was going where. I seem to recall they wanted Danny La Rue to go somewhere which was further than he usually went might have been Plymouth/Newcastle etc. They discussed it and Danny agreed to do it if he could have a more central venue the next year and suggested Birmingham. Paul considered this then agreed to it. So there will be trade offs between Producers and performers. Also Britt Ekland had to be convinced to play the villainess having played the fairy/good part for all her previous pantos. The show may still be on YouTube if anyone wants to look for it. Manchester is probably very desirable for Gareth Gates as his partner Faye Brooks works on Corrie which is filmed very close to the theatre and likely lives locally too. |
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