Christmas Pantos are a highlight of the year shared by both children and adults. In this blog I thought I would talk to you about how everything works behind the scenes. I am looking at the point of view of a sound engineer.
Believe it or not, when putting a Panto on It usually starts the year before. When preparing for a panto, you have to set aside a few months to create a budget, select a show and purchase rights, reserve performance and rehearsal spaces. This Is the most important part of putting on a panto. If you have no budget, you have no way to pay for anything including the show and performance rights. The need for the show and purchase rights are important because you can get a lawsuit for copy right if you don’t.
Two months before you announce the show and hold auditions. You also have to employ all the production teams, this includes sound, lighting, construction, costume design and construction. This is so you have plenty of time to have all the costumes and sets made for the night of the first show.
A week before the show goes live you hold the technical rehearsal (Tech Rehearsal) and the first dress rehearsal. This is so the cast and crew know what is happening when the performance has started. It also allows the actors to know the ques for going on and off stage and knowing where the lighting is on stage.
The day before is a break day.
For me the day before the show starts performing. I go through the microphones making sure that they are all charging, I also go through my notes of the show to know what microphones are being turned on at the correct time.
In Conclusion, putting on a Christmas panto is hard work. Especially for the production team, Who work 7 days a week, the week before to make sure that the sets and costumes, lighting and sound and more are perfect for the performance Infront of the audience.
I have worked on Christmas pantos and every couple of weeks, the production team have had meetings so everyone knows what is happening.
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