Download What is Pantomime?

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Education Pack
2016/2017
Contents
About the Everyman Theatre
Introduction
Upcoming Events
What is Pantomime?
A Brief History of Pantomime
Pantomime Characters
Pantomime Traditions
The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk
Readathon
Behind the Scenes: Interview with the Chief Executive
Behind the Scenes: Interview with the Writer/Director
The Pantomime Timeline
Activities and Exercises:
Be a Dramatist
Be a Designer
Be an Actor
Writing Exercises
Maths Exercises
Panto Students’ Competition
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Page
2
3
4
5
6
7–8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 – 20
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16 – 17
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19 – 20
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22 – 23
About the Everyman Theatre
The Everyman is Gloucestershire's theatre - and has been serving the county (and beyond)
since 1891.
Our main auditorium is an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Matcham that has
inspired generations of performers. The common thread throughout the many years has
always been our relationship with our audience - a relationship that we treasure.
Whether you visit the Everyman to see ballet, opera, drama, dance, comedy, music events
or our traditional family pantomime. Or if you take part in one of our many community
projects, education workshops or youth theatre productions. Or if you visit us to dine or
drink in our café, or wine bar. Or if you are simply here to visit our website and book your
tickets. Whatever the reason we would like to warmly welcome you and hope you return
many times.
The Everyman Theatre’s Pantomime has become an annual tradition with over 40,000
people seeing last year’s production of Cinderella. The Everyman Theatre welcomes many
touring companies throughout the year, providing a diverse range of shows and events, as
well as producing an in-house production each year. Our recent in-house productions have
included Beatrix Potter and the Tailor of Gloucester, Will Harvey’s War, Cider with Rosie and
Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.
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William Elliott as Baroness Hardup in Cinderella (2015)
Introduction
For many young people, Pantomime is the first experience of Live Theatre, and can be very
different from anything they have experienced before. An enthralling first theatre
experience can leave a lasting impression, and create a lifelong love of theatre.
This Education Pack is designed to help introduce young people to the stories, ideas and
traditions that they can expect from a visit to the pantomime. All of the ideas and activities
are constructed to be used before, after or independently from a visit to see the show, and
can be used either individually or as a whole. The pack contains various engaging activities
including creative writing, drama exercises, group work and games centred on this year’s
pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk.
I hope that this pack is useful to you, and helps your students immerse themselves in the
weird and wonderful world of Pantomime.
We would be delighted to hear any feedback on this Education Pack, or on this year’s
production, so please feel free to get in touch with me at
[email protected].
Best wishes,
Joe Hackett
Marketing and Participation Officer
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What is Pantomime?
Pantomime is a unique British tradition commonly found in theatres up and down the UK throughout the
winter period. In fact, Pantomime has become a British institution but its origins are from beyond British
shores.
The pantomime we see today can be distinguished by its dramatisation of a classic fairytale told through the
use of eccentric characters and absurd situations. It’s a place where men dress as women and women dress as
men, where good triumphs over evil and the audience are as much a part of the action as the pantomime cow,
the beanstalk or the magic means. The stories are told with a gigantic emotional heart through the use of
acting, song, dance and intriguing illusions and magic.
Where do the stories come from?
Most well known pantomimes are based on Fairytales, well-known versions of which are often influenced by
Charles Perrault’s collection of Traditional Fairytales published in 1697. Perrault didn’t make up the stories, but
he did give them the names that we know and love today. The Everyman Theatre produces a canon of the five
most popular stories: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington and Aladdin. Can
you think of any other stories which could be turned into Pantomimes?
Sleeping Beauty
Cinderella
Jack and the Beanstalk
Sleeping Beauty
was a popular
melodrama when it
began, but
morphed into a
traditional panto in
1822. Possibly the
trickiest story to
tell – due to the
100 year gap in the
story between the
Princess’ birthday
where she pricks
her finger and the
Prince coming to
save her.
First performed in 1804, Cinderella is the most
popular panto story. The main rags to riches
story has been told for hundreds of years. The
first version is believed to come from China,
more than 1,100 years ago. In an Egyptian
nd
version from the 2 Century AD an eagle takes
the sandal of Rhodope while she is bathing. The
eagle takes the sandal to the Pharoah, who vows
to marry whomever fits the sandal. He searches
all of Egypt until he finds Rhodope. Perrault’s
story gives the name Cinderella, and introduces
the pumpkin, glass slippers and the Fairy
Godmother. The Brothers Grimm did a gruesome
take on the story where the Ugly Sisters are so
desperate to marry the Prince that they cut off
bits of their feet to fit into the shoe!
Jack and the Beanstalk was
first performed as a
pantomime at the Theatre
Royal Drury Lane in 1819. A
version of the play from
1859 is almost
unrecognisable to the story
we know today, except for
the moment that Jack grows
a beanstalk up to the sky.
Jack was a hero of many
English folk stories, including
Jack Sprat, Little Jack Horner,
Jack the Giant Killer and Jack
Frost.
Dick Whittington
A particular favourite because of its local background,
Dick Whittington is particularly fascinating because it is
based on real characters. Richard Whittington was born
in 1358 in Gloucestershire. He left home for London at
14 where he was trained by John Fitzwarryn. In 1382,
Dick married Alice Fitzwarryn (and they actually had a
cook named Sarah – perhaps the inspiration for the
Dame in Dick Whittington). In 1397, following the death
of the Mayor, Richard II appointed Dick to complete the
Mayor’s tenure. He was a very popular mayor and was
re-elected in 1398, 1406 and 1419.
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Aladdin
Aladdin was first performed on Boxing Day in
1788 and is the second most performed panto.
It comes from a collection of stories called The
Arabian Nights – which is full of adventure and
memorable things like a genie, flying carpets, an
evil magician and a cave full of treasure. The
story originated in Syrian folklore, but was made
th
popular in 18 Century Europe by French writer
Antoine Galland.
A Brief History of Pantomime
Charles Perrault was regarded in his lifetime as one of the cleverest men in France. He spent a lot of
time writing very highly respected books on history and philosophy, and was very well respected.
Despite his other works, it is almost certain that he would not be know to the general public if he
had not written a small book of eight fairy tales in 1697 called Stories or Tales from Times Past, with
Morals, with the added title, Tales of Mother Goose.
Charles Perrault did not publish the book in question under his own name, but under the name of his
son, Pierre – perhaps he thought the book was too childish to be associated with himself!
Perrault did not make up the stories, they were traditional folktales, but he chose his stories well,
and gave them the titles they have today.
Did you know that in the little book were the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb and Cinderella?
They are all popular pantomimes to this day!
Where the story of Cinderella originated is unknown but the earliest datable version of the
Cinderella story occurs in a Chinese book written about 850-860 AD. The earliest European version
of tale was published in Italy in 1634.
The story has had many variations over the centuries - some very early editions have one of the Ugly
Sisters hacking her toes of with a crude, blunt instrument in an attempt to make the glass slipper fit
her foot.
More than 700 variations of the Cinderella tale have been collected from around the world, with it
appearing in almost every language.
What other information can you find out about the origins and history of pantomime?
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Pantomime Characters
Traditional Pantomimes are easily recognisable nowadays for their use of stock characters, scenes and
audience participation. In the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, you will be able to spot all the typical
pantomime characters such as:
The Principal Boy
In traditional pantomime, the lead boy is played by a female actor. The principal
boy is brave, heroic and adventurous. They will often be drawn into a quest to
rescue the heroine of the story, defeating the villain along the way. Principal Boy
characters include Dick Whittington, Jack, Aladdin and Prince Charming.
The Dame
An older female character played by a man, who is usually very comic and over the
top. The best Pantomime Dames are recognisable as men playing a woman, rather
than a man attempting to pass as a woman. Jack Tripp, a well known and
experienced Dame, said that he should be clearly seen “as a nice man being a nice
lady”. The role of the Dame has increased over the years. Where the Dame would
originally have worn a hat and shawl throughout the performance, the actor may
now have up to 15 costume changes! Dame characters include Widow Twankey in
Aladdin, Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk and Sarah the Cook in Dick
Whittington.
The Heroine
Traditionally the heroine was girlish and innocent, and often becomes a Princess at
the end of the story. In recent years, Pantomimes have moved more with the times
and the heroines have been updated to be individual, powerful female characters
that can affect the story and save the day for themselves. In the Everyman Theatre’s
Sleeping Beauty in 2014, Princess Aurora rescued the Prince, slayed the dragon and
saved the day, turning the traditional story on its head.
The Comic
Every pantomime has a silly character that tries to help the Hero or Heroine, but gets
everything wrong along the way. They are normally the Dame’s child and need a lot
of help from the audience during the show. The Comic Character is often played by
professional comedians or clowns.
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The Villain
Every Fairytale and Pantomime story has a bad character that the Hero or Heroine has to defeat to save the
day. The Villains are often driven by greed and a desire for power, and usually either use bad magic or are in
some way grotesque. In Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin the Villains are often characters who possess magic
powers who long for power over the kingdom. In Dick Whittingon, King Rat vies for control over London with
Dick. In Cinderella, the villains are usually the Ugly Sisters – who are also Dames, which makes them comic and
monstrous at the same time. In Jack and the Beanstalk, the ultimate Villain is a Giant who sends his henchman
to steal from the villagers, and threatens to grind men’s bones to make his bread.
The Good Fairy/Genie
In every Pantomime story, the Hero has a magic helper, who guides them on their journey and provides some
helping magic. Most stories have a Good Fairy, who use their powers to support the Hero and help to save the
day. In Aladdin, a Genie (either of the Lamp or of the Ring) helps Aladdin pretend to be a Prince to be eligible
to meet the Sultan and his daughter, the Princess. The Genie also helps to defeat the evil Abanazar. In
Pantomime tradition, the Good Fairy will always enter from Stage Right (the left as the audience look at it) and
the Villain will always enter from Stage Left. The Good Fairy always wears a very sparkly, glittering costume
and often has a tiara or embellished jewellery.
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Pantomime Traditions
Pantomime is a show for all the family, and there are lots of elements to appeal to all ages. A Pantomime
should be fun, involving and entertaining and should encourage lots of audience interaction – including
characters coming into the auditorium, shout-outs, songs, sing-alongs and much more!
Some of the elements you should expect to see in the pantomime are:
The Slosh Scene
During the pantomime, there is usually a very messy scene called the ‘Slosh’ scene. This is a scene where the
Dame and the Comic character, and maybe one or two others, make a lot of mess on stage – usually making a
cake, or decorating. The scene can take any form, but the aim is to get as messy as possible!
Audience Participation
The audience are encouraged to shout out responses to lines from the show. These can include “He’s behind
you!”,”Oh yes it is/Oh no it isn’t” and often shouting the name of the Comic Character to get their attention.
The audience are also encouraged to boo the villain whenever they enter, exit or do something bad. It’s
important to remind younger audience members not to just shout for the whole performance – otherwise
they might miss something!
Sing-along Song
At the end of the play, the Dame and the Comic Character will come out and sing a short section of one of the
songs from the Pantomime. They will encourage the audience to sing along and join in with the actions. Often
this song will lead to a competition to see which half of the audience is the loudest.
The Walk Down
When the Pantomime has finished, the actors will perform a walk down and take a bow to show that the show
has reached its conclusion. The characters will then say a short conclusion before reprising a few numbers
from the show. The walk down is a more fun, vibrant version of a normal Curtain Call which happens at the
end of a play, and is usually set at the wedding of the Hero and Heroine, so expect lavish, colourful costumes
and lots of smiles.
Animals
Every pantomime has a lot of animal characters – Jack and the Beanstalk has the cow, Dick Whittington has
many rats, Cinderella has horses, mice, rats and lizard. The animals are a good opportunity to showcase the
abilities of the younger dancers in the pantomime.
The Spectacle Scene
The Everyman Theatre’s Pantomimes have at least one show-stopping scene. In recent years, Cinderella’s
kitchen transformed into a magical carriage with moving horses, Aladdin took Princess Jasmine for a high-flying
ride over Old Peking on his Magic Carpet, and Dick Whittington dove into the sea to fight a Giant Squid. The
scenes are spectacular to watch and are enjoyed by all.
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Jack and the Beanstalk – The Story
"Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins
and the Enchanted Bean" in the 1734 second edition of Round About Our Coal-Fire and as
Benjamin Tabart's moralised "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. "Felix
Summerly" (Henry Cole) popularised the tale in The Home Treasury (1842), and Joseph
Jacobs rewrote it in English Fairy Tales (1890). Jacobs' version is most commonly reprinted
today and it is believed to be closer to the oral versions than Tabart's because it lacks the
moralising.
"Jack and the Beanstalk" is the best known of the "Jack tales", a series of stories featuring
the archetypal Cornish and English hero and stock character Jack.
The Giant originally had no name, but has often picked up the name Blunderbore in
Pantomimes. The Giant’s cry “Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!” originates from Shakespeare’s King Lear.
In Roald Dahl’s The BFG, Jack is mentioned by the evil giants who are afraid of the “giantkiller” Jack, who kills Giants with his Beanstalk. The Giant’s don’t know how he uses his
beanstalk, but they seem to think it is some kind of weapon.
According to researchers at the universities in Durham and Lisbon, the story originated
more than 5,000 years ago, based on a widespread archaic story form which is now
classified by folkorists as ATU 328 The Boy Who Stole Ogre's Treasure.
The story Jack and the Beanstalk is unusual in that it does not traditionally have a female
love interest, which sets it apart from many other pantomimes. To help the story follow the
expected pattern of a modern Pantomime, many productions include a girl named Jill – from
the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill – who is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Giant, which
encourages Jack to climb the beanstalk and rescue her.
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Behind the Scenes:
An Interview with Geoffrey Rowe,
Chief Executive of the Everyman Theatre
Geoffrey Rowe has been the Chief Executive of the Everyman Theatre since 2006. In that
time, the Everyman Theatre’s annual pantomime has grown in popularity, drawing in larger
audiences year on year.
What was your first experience of Pantomime?
I went to a production at the Oxford New Theatre of Babes in the Wood. It had a hit song of
the day in it – “I’m a Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch”. The chorus was Boo hoo! Boo
hoo!
Why is Pantomime still popular today?
The British love traditions and for some people pantomime is the only time they visit a
theatre. Also, it is one of the few outings that all ages can enjoy, from small children to
grandparents.
In your opinion, what makes a good pantomime?
A good pantomime starts with a strong basis. Good singing and dancing, with all the
traditional elements added in like the Dame, the Slosh Scene and the song sheet etc.
Which is your favourite Pantomime story – and why?
Dick Whittington. I always find it strangely moving that the girl discovers she loves a thief
but all comes right in the end
What are the difficulties with staging an annual Pantomime?
Lots of different scenes and furniture and effects and flying make pantomime technically
difficult. There are a lot of performances so it’s very tiring for everyone on stage and off.
Great danger of lost voices and injuries and catching flu in the cast. Audiences getting stuck
in snow is the worst.
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Behind the scenes:
Making a Panto – An Interview with
Phil Clark, Writer and Director
Phil Clark writes and directs pantomimes around the country, as well as working with the
Everyman Theatre on the annual Family Pantomime. Phil has worked as a Writer and
Director for over 40 years, specialising in shows for younger audiences. In recent years, Phil
has directed National Tours of Horrible Histories and The Firework Maker’s Daughter.
What makes a good pantomime?
Seeing an audience full of people laughing, crying, shouting and enjoying themselves is the
best experience in the world, and it is the job of the pantomime to encourage the audience
to feel all those things. If you don’t leave the theatre feeling that you’ve been on a journey
with the characters then the pantomime hasn’t done its job.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing a Pantomime?
What is fantastic about the pantomime is the way it chooses to engage with its audience.
The audience is an extra character onstage. Without the audience the pantomime doesn’t
work. Pantomime is an open partnership between actor and audience. Friendships are
made. Plots developed. Secrets are share and alliances made… and all in a public arena. At
any time the audience can disturb the plot, or give the game away. The audience has power.
Writing a pantomime that allows the audience to have that power, but still allowing the
characters to guide the story is a fine line and can be difficult because every audience is
different!
How do you direct a Pantomime?
Because the pantomime is such a big show we have quite a tight and rigid rehearsal process.
There’s lots of dialogue to learn, dances to be choreographed, routines to be practiced and
songs to be sung. Generally in week one, we rehearse Act One. In week two we rehearse…
yes, you guess… Act Two. In week three, we spend time refining and getting the pace,
energy and rhythm up to speed. In week four we move into the Everyman and put it all on
stage with scenery, costumes, lights, sound effects and music… we run a tight ship.
What’s your favourite Pantomime story to tell – and why?
My favourite panto is probably Cinderella. It is magical and most people have great empathy
with the themes. It’s a classic.
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Behind the Scenes:
Making a Panto - The Pantomime Timeline
Producing a Pantomime is a year long process, which involves lots of planning and
preparation. Everything needs to be co-ordinated and organised well before the opening
night, to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
January
This year’s pantomime story is selected
The Writer, Director and Designers are hired
February
The writer begins to write the script
March
Tickets go on sale to schools and group
bookers, before going on sale to the public
Some Lead performers are cast
April
The first Pantomime advert goes in the
Brochure
The first draft of the script is submitted
May
A Production Meeting takes place, where the
production team discuss the styles and
themes of the show.
The costume and set design begins
June
Casting Calls are issued for the main cast
July
Main cast auditions take place
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August
Final casting is announced
September
The Writer, Director and Designers have a
production meeting to discuss set and
costume designs
October
Cast receive their contracts
Items are found to go in the Pantomime
Goody bags
Pantomime adverts begin to appear in local
press, magazines and on buses.
Pantomime workshop practitioners are hired
and trained
Most of the songs are decided
November
Rehearsals start
Pantomime Workshop practitioners start
visiting schools
The Pantomime opens on the last weekend
December
The Pantomime is performed on 27 out of 31
days
The theatre closes for one day on Christmas
Be a Dramatist
When we see a play the story is told to us by living characters on stage in dialogue form. The role of a
Dramatist is to take the story and turn it into a play that people can sit and watch.
1.
What are the problems encountered by the dramatist when adapting a story for the stage?
2.
Why is it not enough just to use words as spoken in the story?
3.
Tell the story of the pantomime from the point of view of different characters.
4.
Imagine that you are one of the following characters and write a letter:
5.
1.
As Jack to his Mother
2.
As Jill to Jack
3.
As the Giant to Jack, after Jack has taken the Golden Harp
Write a poem based on the characters of the pantomime. First map out words or make up a word
bank. Then use one of the following ways to write a poem:



A narrative poem with rhymes
A shape poem, for example in the shape of a glass slipper
An alliterative poem using words which begin with the same letter
You could collect these poems into a class book with illustrations, or send them to the Everyman Theatre
where we will display them.
6.
Write a sequel to Jack and the Beanstalk.
7.
Write a fairy story as a class on the computer, adding a sentence each.
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Be a Designer
The role of a Designer is to take the story on the page and give it a visual style. The Designer
needs to make everything work together, as well as creating costumes which suit each
character’s personality.
We associate colours with meanings and feelings, and this is an important part of costume
design. Fill in the table below with a word that you associate to each colour.
Colour
Example: Blue
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
White
Black
Brown
Purple
Meaning
Example: Sad / Calm / Cold
Choose a character from Jack and the Beanstalk. What do you think they are like as a
person? Choose 5 adjectives (describing words) which suit the character you have chosen:
1.___________________
2.___________________
3.___________________
4.___________________
5.___________________
Is the character you have chosen a Good Character or a Bad Character?
Good Character
Bad Character
Pick 3 colours which best describe your character
1.___________________
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2.___________________
3.___________________
Use the colours you have chosen to design a costume for your character. Here are some
costume examples:
We’d love to see your designs, so please feel free to send them to: Joe Hackett, Everyman Theatre, Regent
Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
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Be an Actor
Acting for a Pantomime is all about playing up the characters as big as possible, making
them larger than life and exaggerated.
KS1 Acting Exercises:
1) Describing Words
Say the name of a character and have the group suggest describing words – try to
encourage words which describe the character’s personality, avoiding words about
appearance which can be subjective. Choose two or three words and ask the group
to show that word with their body. Encourage them to think about different ways of
showing a word so that there are different examples. This exercise should encourage
physicality and thinking about how to display emotions through gesture.
2) Still Images
Split the class into smaller groups of 4 or 5. Give the groups a moment from the story
– Jack selling the cow, Jack climbing the Beanstalk, Jack rescuing Jill from the Giant –
and have the group create still images which show the moment you have given.
Encourage them to see how the same moment can be shown in different ways.
KS2 Acting Exercises:
1) Role Play
Split the class into groups of 3 or 4 and assign characters who could reasonably exist
on the edge of the story of the pantomime. Have the group create a short scene
where they act as those characters having a conversation about an event of the play
– Villagers in Jack’s Village talking about the beanstalk that has grown overnight,
Market Traders talking about the cow they’ve seen Jack trying to sell, Villagers whose
house has been squashed by the Giant falling from the Beanstalk. Encourage the
group to think outside the story and think how they would react in the situation.
2) Dumb Show
Cover the story with the group to ensure they understand the basic outline. Split the
class into groups of 5 or 6 and have them act out a silent version of the pantomime.
Make sure that they make it clear which character they are playing through their
physicality and facial expression. This exercise will help the children to understand
how exaggeration and gesture are used to create comedy and larger-than-life
characters.
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Writing Exercises
Write to the Theatre
At the Everyman Theatre, we would love to hear back from you about your experience at
the Pantomime. Try writing a formal letter to the Everyman Theatre and send it in to:
Joe Hackett
Marketing and Participation Officer
Everyman Theatre
Regent Street
Cheltenham
GL50 1HQ
The address of the person you are writing to should go in the top left corner.
Your address, or your class and school, should go on the right alongside the first address. Slightly
underneath, on the left, should be the greeting (Dear Sir/Madam if you don’t know who you’re
writing to, or Dear ______ putting in the person’s name if you know it)
In the main section of the letter, start with why you are writing, and then write details about your
thoughts of the show – these can be good or not so good, we like any kind of feedback!
At the end of your letter, remember to sign off correctly. If you don’t know who you’re writing to
(Dear Sir/Madam) sign off with ‘Yours faithfully’. If you know the name of the person (i.e. Joe
Hackett) the letter should end with ‘Yours sincerely’
Send us a Postcard
Alternatively, print this page on a piece of card and make your own postcard to send to the theatre,
using the template below.
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KS1 WRITING EXERCISES
Rhyming Game
Some characters in the pantomime speak in rhyme. Fill in the story below choosing which
words best rhyme and finish the each line.
Jack, our Hero, lived in Town with his lovely mum, Dame Trott
But they were feeling very ___________, because they haven’t got a ____________
One day when they were very Poor, they needed funds Somehow
They couldn’t bear it any _________, and had to sell their ____________
Choose from the words below:
More
Down
Cow
Lot
KS2 WRITING EXERCISES
Be a Critic
A critic is a person who comes to see a show and writes a Review, which tells people
whether the show is worth seeing or not. A good critic can cover the basic story and sum up
the production – the good things and the things which can be improved – clearly and
understandably, without being mean or insulting specific people or areas of the production.
1) Try writing a review for a show you’ve been to see/ for the Pantomime
- Make sure you tell the reader: the name of the show and where it is on; a brief
outline of the story; what you liked; who the best people in the show were; what
you would maybe have liked to see; how long the show is on for.
Write about a Pantomime Experience
Think about your visit to the Pantomime. Remember how the stage was lit, what the
costumes were like, how many backdrops there were, what food and drink you could see on
sale. Now imagine that you are a child from 100 years ago. Think about how a visit to the
theatre would have been different 100 years ago. Write a short story about visiting the
theatre – remember to talk about what you can see, hear and smell, what the atmosphere is
like. Try not to talk about the Modern Day, and only talk about what a child 100 years ago
would see and understand.
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Maths Exercises
KS1 Exercises
Audience Numbers
a) The Stalls (Ground Floor) can seat 20 people, and the Circle (First Floor) can seat 30 people. How
many people can be seated altogether?
b) A teacher has a class of 12 children, and two Staff Helpers. If the class is split equally between
the three adults, how many children is each adult responsible for?
KS2 Exercise
Producing a Pantomime Budget
Staging a pantomime is an expensive business. The amount of money available in the budget determines
what a Creative Team can and can’t afford.
Use the table below to work out the budget for your own show. Your students will need to choose either
the Basic, Standard or Best option for each heading, and put the cost for the chosen level in the Budget
Choice column. Having the different amounts will force learners to make critical decisions about what
their production will prioritise to make it come within budget. It is important to note that none of these
options create a ‘Bad’ show, but the more expensive options will be the most reliable, most crowdpleasing options.
The Budget for your Pantomime is £100,000. Good Luck!
ITEM
BASIC
STANDARD
BEST
Writer
£4,000
£6,000
£8,000
Director
£5,000
£8,000
£10,000
Musical Director
£4,000
£6,000
£8,000
Musicians
£10,000
£15,000
£20,000
Choreographer
£2,000
£3,000
£4,000
Principal Cast
£10,000
£15,000
£20,000
Ensemble Cast/Dancers
£4,000
£6,000
£8,000
Technical Team
£5,000
£8,000
£10,000
Stage Set
£9,000
£12,000
£18,000
Costumes
£7,500
£10,000
£15,000
Props
£2,000
£4,000
£6,000
Stage Effects
£1,000
£2,500
£5,000
Lighting Equipment
£5,000
£10,000
£15,000
Sound Equipment
£4,000
£7,500
£10,000
Marketing
£1,000
£4,000
£7,500
TOTAL
21
BUDGET CHOICE
Competition Time!
To enter the competition, complete all the exercises on Page 21 and 22, fill in the entry slip at the
bottom of page 22 and post the two competition pages only to: Joe Hackett, Everyman Theatre,
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ.
The competition winner will be drawn from a Lucky Dip at the end of the Pantomime. The winning
student will win a Family Ticket to the opening night of next year’s Pantomime!
The competition is only open to students from schools who have booked to see this year’s
pantomime. Please ensure the school name and year group are entered on the entry slip at the
bottom of page 22.
Crossword
1.
2.
ACROSS
1. Jack and the __________(8)
3. Jack cuts down the beanstalk
with an _______ (3)
3.
4.
5.
4. Jack ______ up to the Giant’s
Castle (5)
6. The Giant lives in a Castle up in
the _____ (3)
6.
9. “Fee, ____, _____, Fum” (3,3)
7.
10. Jack sells his _____ (3)
8.
9
11. Maybe the cow could be
named after this flower? (5)
10.
DOWN
1. Jack exchanges his cow for a
handful of 5 Down _______ (5)
11
2. The story comes from a
traditional Fairy_______ (4)
5. Jack exchanges his cow for a
handful of ________ & 1 Down (5)
7. The Giant is cutting his lunch up
with a giant _______ (5)
8. The Giant has a Harp of ____ (4)
Word Jumble
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
GICAM SNABE
EGLODN RAHP
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
CAJK DAN IJLL
EDAM TORTT
TANASKELB
22
IRAFETLYA
Wordsearch
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PANTOMIME
STORY
JACK
EVERYMAN
FAIRYTALE
JILL
BEANS
GIANT
MAGIC
HARP
Colour Me In
Name:___________________
School & Class: ____________________________
Return to Joe Hackett, Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
23