The Process of Creating a Theatre Production
At StageAbility, we have just completed our first rehearsal for Dick Whittington, this year’s pantomime, so now is a great time to share what goes on behind the scenes of a theatre production. Let’s explore the process of bringing a pantomime to life.
1. The Script It all starts with a script. This is the blueprint for the entire production. StageAbility’s scripts are usually written by one of our much-loved Panto scriptwriters, Simon, but this year I was keen to have a go. I started writing it at the beginning of June and was brave enough to send it to our Director for review at the start of July. Our long-standing production team (me, our Director and our Stage Manager) each added things in, moved things about and tweaked things about until we were happy.
2. Booking the Theatre and Rehearsal Space Before we even start advertising auditions, we need to make sure that we have somewhere to audition, somewhere to rehearse and somewhere to perform. The theatre is booked way in advance, but the audition and rehearsal rooms need to be confirmed before we start.
3. Parent Information Everything is booked and we’re raring to go, but it’s important that we give parents ALL the information and the commitment needed before they even sign their child up to audition. So I put together a full pack with the audition material, some tips, the dates of rehearsals, the dates for the show, the prices and lots of other information. It’s no good casting Dick Whittington and then finding out the child can only make half the rehearsals!
4. Auditions Now we’re ready to hold the auditions to cast the roles. The young actors prepare some short scenes from the play to showcase their talents and sing a section of a song. Our casting team then evaluate each performer’s skills, personality and suitability for the role.
5. Casting This is always so hard because we know some children will be disappointed, but we always pick the best person for the role (in our opinion) and try to make that clear to everyone in the information pack. You might be surprised to know that the casting team very rarely disagree.
6. Rehearsals After the cast is selected, rehearsals begin. This is where the magic happens. The director works with the actors to develop the characters, explore the themes, and perfect the staging. Rehearsals can be intense, involving long hours and lots of hard work. And it’s not just the acting they need to get right. the cast need to remember their entrances, exits and their props!
7. Props, music, sound effects, set and costume While the actors are rehearsing, the team is also buying and collecting the props, deciding on costume then sourcing those and working out what set is needed for the show. Although most of the music is sourced before rehearsals start, we often add in sound effects and intro/outro music as we go along which needs sourcing and adding into the play list.
8. Financial Stuff! And at the same time as all of that, the StageAbility team and the cast members are promoting the show. The show fees and ticket sales are crucial for paying the team, the rehearsal venues, the props and costumes, the theatre itself and the tech team.
9. Technical Rehearsal Once everything is in place and the show is almost ready, we take the show into the theatre to set the lights and practise the music, projection and sound elements that the tech crew – new to the show – will be playing in for us. It can be a complex process that requires precision and timing. The StageAbility team need to prepare scripts or cue sheets for each of the tech team so that they can bring the show to life.
10. Opening Night Finally, the big night arrives! The curtain rises, the lights dim, and the magic unfolds. The actors perform their hearts out, the audience is captivated, and the hard work of the entire team pays off.
Did any of this surprise you? It’s pretty full-on but we love doing it and so, it seems, do the children and their families! Long may it continue!
So, the next time you attend a theatre performance, whether it’s our show or a West Edn extravaganza, take a moment to appreciate the incredible amount of work that goes into creating the magic on stage. From the initial auditions to the final curtain call, it’s a journey filled with creativity, passion, and teamwork. We love it!
If you’d like to find out more about StageAbility’s shows, click here!