It’s a tough life in panto – but I love it!
WE ASKED our director, Sam Kane, a few questions about his life in panto:
When you are packing your belongings for a panto season away from home, what are the most important things that you must bring with you?
Panto’s always a tough time as you’re away for a longish period of time.
You never quite know what the digs are going to be like and what facilities they are equipped with so it’s a compromise.
A kettle is always the first thing on the list.
Clothes and warm and cold weather coats are an obvious.
My slow cooker is a must as that is what keeps me alive. A little prep in the morning before the show, switch on and let it do its thing. A sharp knife is also a must as there’s rarely one good enough in the digs.
As I do a radio show, my whole kit comes with me also, microphones, music, monitors etc.
How do the family cope with you being away at Christmas?
My family have been doing panto for most of our adult life.
We’ve been very fortunate to have worked together for most of it.
The past few years have been apart and that’s really tough It’s always an emotional wrench to be pulled away from each other at the festive period.
Families make that extra effort and there’s a real magic in the air around Christmas so to not have your closest and loved ones near you is very hard but... we have learned to get on with it and it has, over the years just become the norm to be apart for stretches of time due to the job.
What does your dressing room look like over Christmas?
As I’m directing the show, I don’t tend to see my dressing room very much until we get to dress rehearsal.
It’s as tidy as I have time to keep it up to around the second day.
My make up and kettle is always in the place it should be.
If I’m alone in my dressing room over Christmas, it’s rarely decorated and festive, as I just don’t have time to do it. If Linda is in there with me, it’s, as you’d expect, practically perfect, a veritable grotto.
Do you have certain things that you must have with you?
My laptop is essential as I work from it over Christmas.
A bluetooth speaker, also a must due to the needing for noise in the ether.
Mic tape is a definite. Sound guys don’t always carry that. It’s vital to keep cables taped to you somehow as they can cause all manner of problems when I’m throwing myself around.
I’m very practical so a multifunctional tool like a Leatherman is always a must. I’ve never not needed it. Ever.
Do you have any rituals that you do before every performance?
I’m not superstitious at all. There are no rituals for me. Just diligence. Go over my lines before every scene and a vocal warm-up when I haven’t got bronchitis.
Illness is rife over the winter period.
You’re also directing the show, so how do you manage to juggle both directing and performing?
I’ve directed the show for over 20 years now and been in it every year I’ve directed.
It is tough. I can’t lie. It’s difficult switching your head from director to performer.
It’s always a version of the performer I know I can be until I put the boss’s hat down, then I can be him...
It’s exhausting but so exhilarating when it all comes off and everything works like clockwork.
What do you think are the key elements to making a good pantomime?
This answer would and could be a novel. The essence of a great pantomime are comedy, heart, truth and energy. The sub categories within those are infinite.
Pace is vital. If you can make every generation laugh and cry in the two hours you have their attention and, as the old cliché goes, leave them wanting more.
The production – lights, sound, set, costumes are a given but should never go without saying.
The set and theatre are what you see first when you enter. It starts the moment you walk through the door.
What are you looking forward to most about this particular show?
I’m looking forward to seeing if we made a difference last year to who comes this year.
I feel like we did a great job last year.
Everyone who left and mentioned us had only great things to offer as a personal review.
Seeing if we can replicate that kind of enthusiasm here in Southport would be amazing.
I’m also looking forward to working with mostly the same cast again.
A few new faces for me who I already love and are brilliant.
Also the story of Beauty & The Beast has real heart and real jeopardy, so telling this one will be wonderful. It’s a magical pantomime and I can’t wait to be up there and know it.