Online panto performers had to ‘quit or adapt’
Pantomime performers have said they had to "adapt or quit" as the festive tradition moved online and into car parks to meet coronavirus restrictions this year.
Social distancing measures have meant many pantomime productions have moved audiences online via video call or into cars as part of a drivein experience.
In Switzerland, the Basel English Pan to Group' s Goldilocks And The 3 Bearz bills itself as the world' s first online panto mime-and has been enjoyed by audiences in the United Kingdom and across Europe.
Mixing pre-recorded scenes with video calls for audience participation, organisers said planning began for the production as early as April, when they feared the festive tradition may not be able to go ahead at all.
"Strangely, 35 years ago I used to teach epidemiology at Imperial College ," said co -writer and director Richard Brown, who also plays Poppa B ear in the production.
"I got my old notes out and looked at what was happening with Covid and scared myself rigid - I also realised we would be unlikely to be able to get together to audition, rehearse and put the show on."
Producing the show required the team to work with specialised video call technology platforms to allow for smooth audience participation.
The online pan tomime also faced a series of set backs including half of the cast needing to go into quarantine part way through filming due to a Covid outbreak-with Mr Brown having to quickly rewrite the scenes as Zoom calls.