it's Panto time.

Hello, lovelies. 

          With Christmas fading from memory, it can only mean one thing in my household, it’s panto time. A month of writing the script, four months of rehearsing one night a week till January when my entire life is taken over and consumed by our local community theatre group’s yearly pantomime. Costumes have been either bought or made. The bar is fully stocked. And my Amazon buying history is a little eye opening. But all our efforts are put on to the stage where my ready, willing and able actors perform in front of packed pews. And this year was no different. But with the uncertainty of Covid, and the rules ever changing to us even being allowed to put on a show, should this have been the year for us all to have taken the time off and not to have bothered with it all? Is the world ready for us to start donning the make-up and 4” heels as we perform? Or is the very best time to air out our costumes, put on the greasepaint and show the world that covid may have stopped us, but it most definitely hasn’t beaten us. 

          I am honoured to have been apart of MP3’s ninth family pantomime. MP3, or Merton Priory 3 churches, was born after one of the leading men had gone to see the panto at his local theatre, and whilst everyone else there was concentrating on the show, he came up with the bright idea that wouldn’t it be fun if he enlisted his fellow church goers in putting on his very own Pantomime over two nights. And the kicker was, that each night would be performed in different venues! We have learnt so much since then, as moving all the set and costumes, bar and actors along with about 30 children, was way too adventurous. But after a script was written and a vicar was enlisted to play one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella, friendships were made, ideas were born, and MP3 came into being. And we haven’t looked back since. 

           Every year we have selected a charity to support and raise money for. From the local Food Bank and Shelter to the Samaritan’s. And this year we set about raising money for a fantastic organisation, Jigsaw4U. They help young adults through bereavement and family trauma, to mental health and self-harm. Such an important charity that there was no way that we could have chosen any other. And as it was our first year back after Covid, we thought it would be great to start back again with Cinderella, the Shoe must Go On. 

              After finalising the script, my beloved and much put-upon producer agreed to it, which had started out as a traditional family friendly panto…. A far cry from the double entendre filled sassy performance that was delivered on stage. And we were set to cast and deliver our fun little show. What followed was weekly rehearsals in cold churches. We may have laughed too much, eaten plenty of biscuits, figured out how to get hot food delivered to the rehearsal space and secretly worried that, even after all our efforts, we may not be able to put the show on at all. Thanks, Covid. But as the weeks marched on, and the lines were beginning to be learnt, and I can hand on heart swear that they were mostly learnt by most of the cast, it looked more and more likely that we would get the go ahead. 

            With daily reminders to take and record our negative lateral flow tests, we all managed to stay positive that we would all remain negative. And then. Show time. I had managed to enlist, okay, persuaded my two youngest children to work both backstage and operating the lights. The set was erected, the costumes hung up, and the lines mostly learnt, we were ready for the opening night. 

             The music started to play, the lights were dimmed and away they went. First song. First laugh. Then another and another. All the hard work that had gone into putting on the show seemed to fade into insignificance. The actors were outstanding. The pianist magnanimous, even managing to cover more than one faux pas on stage with just a tinkle of his fingers. We had done it. Against all odds, there they were performing on stage. I couldn’t have been more delighted, and relieved, if I tried.

           So, was it worth it? The hours and hours of painstaking writing, directing and back breaking work that it to put it all together. Spending evening after evening out of my house, all while my dirty laundry basket grew and grew. And in a nutshell. Yes. 

           Not only have we raised money for a worthwhile charity, we made friends and memories. And for that reason alone, I would do it again and again. The question is, would you come and join us? Be part of the crazy world that is MP3 or any local theatre group? And if the answer is yes, I’ll see you next year