My Panto Philosophy is - Story, Comedy, Magic, Comedy!
Story
The most important element of a story is the story. Obvious, isn’t it? Yet, so many people miss this when writing Panto. If you get the story right, you are already onto a winner. Most adults aren’t stupid. Kids? Kids definitely aren’t stupid. Get something wrong in the telling of a classic Fairytale and you’ll be met with a chorus of “That’s not right!” You can’t kid a kid! So why over complicate a story that has survived hundreds of years? Stick to what we already know. This does not mean you can’t have a little fun around it! What I do is take that age old story and add elements that can be a bit left of centre but always, always, always keeping true to the story!
Influences
I love comedy. Who doesn’t? You obviously do because you’re on this site looking for a Panto script! So what influences me? Monty Python. Morecombe and Wise. Blackadder. Ricky Gervais. Family Guy. The Simpsons. A baby monkey going backwards on a pig (Youtube it!). To name a few. The running theme through all of these hilarious people/groups/shows is not the cheap one liners that are just regurgitated over and over again. It’s character. The characters make lines funny. The lines don’t make the character funny. Sure, there are some killer one liners speckled through each of the above's work. I take huge pride in some of the ones I’ve written! But what truly makes David Brent funny is David Brent. That’s what I strive for when writing my scripts. That the laughs are character based. There’s truth in them. Which makes it more challenging for the actor but also a helluva a lot more rewarding knowing that the audience has accepted you when you can say something as mundane as “Was it snowing?” and get an enormous laugh!
Magic
Reading a bedtime story to your kid, your grandchild, your niece or nephew is something that most of us have done. You read. They listen and use their imagination. When it gets to the part where the beanstalk grows, the pumpkin turns into a coach, where the beast transforms back to a prince – it’s these moments that stick in that kids head. I bet your voice changes when reading those parts!! These are the magical moments that you read and they create in their imagination. Creating that image on stage can be challenging but when done well and I mean really well, can make or break your show. It’s the moment that every kid, young and old, turns to their friend, Mam, Dad, Grandparent and asks in total wonder, “How did they do that?!” And the real satisfaction is hearing that older ‘kid’ replying, “I have no idea!!” That is the magic moment. That’s what creates memories. That’s what makes your kid believe in Fairytales.
A final thought
Panto, when done well, looks easy. But we know it’s not. Your first port of call after you’ve chosen which Panto you want to do is finding a script. Yes, you can Google “FREE PANTO SCRIPT” and download some random, generic rubbish that you will spend more time re-writing then getting on the floor and actually rehearsing. Why waste that invaluable time? Get in touch with me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I’ve been writing and directing 2 of Ireland's biggest professional Panto’s since 2008. In venues that never had professional Panto’s before. And year after year the box office has increased with more and more people coming with their families to experience a show that everyone can enjoy!
*Special thanks to: TheatreWorx Productions, The Helix, Robert C. Kelly Productions and University Concert Hall Limerick.
Check out the links here for more info on the theatres:
www.helix.ie and www.uch.ie
Story
The most important element of a story is the story. Obvious, isn’t it? Yet, so many people miss this when writing Panto. If you get the story right, you are already onto a winner. Most adults aren’t stupid. Kids? Kids definitely aren’t stupid. Get something wrong in the telling of a classic Fairytale and you’ll be met with a chorus of “That’s not right!” You can’t kid a kid! So why over complicate a story that has survived hundreds of years? Stick to what we already know. This does not mean you can’t have a little fun around it! What I do is take that age old story and add elements that can be a bit left of centre but always, always, always keeping true to the story!
Influences
I love comedy. Who doesn’t? You obviously do because you’re on this site looking for a Panto script! So what influences me? Monty Python. Morecombe and Wise. Blackadder. Ricky Gervais. Family Guy. The Simpsons. A baby monkey going backwards on a pig (Youtube it!). To name a few. The running theme through all of these hilarious people/groups/shows is not the cheap one liners that are just regurgitated over and over again. It’s character. The characters make lines funny. The lines don’t make the character funny. Sure, there are some killer one liners speckled through each of the above's work. I take huge pride in some of the ones I’ve written! But what truly makes David Brent funny is David Brent. That’s what I strive for when writing my scripts. That the laughs are character based. There’s truth in them. Which makes it more challenging for the actor but also a helluva a lot more rewarding knowing that the audience has accepted you when you can say something as mundane as “Was it snowing?” and get an enormous laugh!
Magic
Reading a bedtime story to your kid, your grandchild, your niece or nephew is something that most of us have done. You read. They listen and use their imagination. When it gets to the part where the beanstalk grows, the pumpkin turns into a coach, where the beast transforms back to a prince – it’s these moments that stick in that kids head. I bet your voice changes when reading those parts!! These are the magical moments that you read and they create in their imagination. Creating that image on stage can be challenging but when done well and I mean really well, can make or break your show. It’s the moment that every kid, young and old, turns to their friend, Mam, Dad, Grandparent and asks in total wonder, “How did they do that?!” And the real satisfaction is hearing that older ‘kid’ replying, “I have no idea!!” That is the magic moment. That’s what creates memories. That’s what makes your kid believe in Fairytales.
A final thought
Panto, when done well, looks easy. But we know it’s not. Your first port of call after you’ve chosen which Panto you want to do is finding a script. Yes, you can Google “FREE PANTO SCRIPT” and download some random, generic rubbish that you will spend more time re-writing then getting on the floor and actually rehearsing. Why waste that invaluable time? Get in touch with me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I’ve been writing and directing 2 of Ireland's biggest professional Panto’s since 2008. In venues that never had professional Panto’s before. And year after year the box office has increased with more and more people coming with their families to experience a show that everyone can enjoy!
*Special thanks to: TheatreWorx Productions, The Helix, Robert C. Kelly Productions and University Concert Hall Limerick.
Check out the links here for more info on the theatres:
www.helix.ie and www.uch.ie