What Does a Panto Company Do Throughout the Year - November

Continuing our blog of what a pantomime company does ‘for the rest of the year’ here is a brief overview of what the Imagine team have been up to during November.

Although people are often surprised to learn we are busy at all times of the year, it is unlikely to come as a surprise to anyone that this time of the year is the busiest for Imagine.  As November draws to a close we have 4 shows open and 14 in rehearsal with the final 4 due to begin rehearsals.

Out in the warehouse the team are busy loading multiple lorries each day with sets, costumes, props and tech equipment both for our own shows and the many hires that are going out this season. This season we have begun to work with a sustainable transport company, using HVO fuel, who will be transporting sets as far away as Inverness.

The Associate Producers for each show are busy travelling the country attending producer runs, rehearsals and press nights.

Our Artistic Director Eric Potts has been up in Scotland for a few weeks directing The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow’s Treasure Island as well as overseeing the productions in Kilmarnock and Kirkcaldy and Steve is now Reading based for a couple of weeks to direct our production of Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon.

Inboxes each morning are brimming with rehearsal, chaperone and show reports – over 2500 in total by the end of the season. Each one must be carefully read by the team and actions taken on requests for additional props, costumes, music and set pieces.

The marketing team have been busy working on programmes and final casting announcements as well as helping to arrange cast attendance at events such as Christmas light switch ons and press events. They are also currently getting assets designed ready to start advertising next year’s pantomimes with many venues aiming to go one sale with 2024 shortly.

Finally, we were thrilled with the four-page article about Imagine Theatre that appeared in the recent edition of The Stage, following Tim Bano’s visit to Imagine a few weeks ago. He received a tour of our HQ as well as interviewing members of staff about their roles at Imagine. You can read the article at https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/imagine-theatre-the-inside-story-of-a-festive-powerhouse-pantomime-steve-sarah-boden

BBC CWE also popped in to see us. Find out more at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67567946

If you are interested in a further look behind the scenes check out the fortnightly Just Imagine Podcast which as well as interviews with the members of the Imagine HQ team includes guest interviews from the wide range of people we work with each year.