He's behind you!!

Private User
Actor

What are people's opinions on doing panto?

career suicide?
Or good experience?

ta :)


  • 17 years ago
  • 4,065
  • 52
Sam Worboys
Actor

If you're up for having some fun and silliness, you've got to do it. It'll show a range on your CV and it's paid work.

All the best.

Sam


  • 17 years ago
  • 41
Kenny Richards-Preston
Actor, Singer

Wow I just love a good debate. Paying the bills? Sure. For some actors that's not the point? Hmmm, they must be in that lucky position of the financial secure that can afford to be picky. Feed ego's? Yeah I can see those that would, have worked with a fair few of them.
Personally? Acting is like any other profession when trying to climb that fiscal ladder. You take all the jobs you can to get noticed, you may hate some of them, but when you get your foot up a few rungs, then you become slightly more selective. Not about what jobs you do, but about what you put down on your CV. Aim to get at least 2 to 3 jobs that year that have the importance of making you noticed on some level.
Ultimately? Get a good showreel, there's 2 kinds, obviously, film/tv and theatre. Film/TV is the easiest to compile, though it means taking a lot of low paid work, but bear in mind only take on the work you can afford to do, or for a better reason, that has a great script!
Theatre showreel? That's harder, if it's an original play then the producers may not be willing for it to be filmed, same with musical production shows or reviews, for costume and coreography reasons, but then, sometimes they like a hard copy of the show for themselves so make a deal with them, it is possible to attain one.
Back to pantomime? It's not everyones cup of tea, and you should respect their decision on this, for whatever reason they have, but for those to slam it and call it career suicide? Take a look at the cv's of those who have said it and decide for yourself, it's just good old fashioned theatrical fun, take the bull by the horns and have a ball.
respect

kenny


  • 17 years ago
  • 42

Two things:

1) THIS FORUM IS SO ADDICTIVE!!!!

2) I have to say I agree iwth the above comments especially becasue it also depends on where you perform and what work you do. I totally think that to work is better than not to work, but i also do think that too much of certain things on your CV can l;ead people to assume you only do certian things.

I also think this is down to taste. Most people I know seem frustrated with TIE etc and want to do what they consider "real" theatre. Whether one likes it or not, you are far more likely to be seen by a big Casting director such as David Grindord etc in a panto at an actual theatre.

That being said... many people LOVE kids and TIE and love the enthusiasm etc..it really all comes down to what yo really want.

Success is a very relative thing..one person sees it as stardom, another as constantly wrking, another will be in the SAME show for ten years, have a comfortable life and not care... others will just do what they love, no major ambition, another wants to start his own company, anpother sees it as being a director...

No one has the right to say you are not successful if it doesnt fit in with your goals and your career plan. And a panto will never harm someones career... if done once a year at the most....


  • 17 years ago
  • 43
Private User
This profile is private

One thing that no one has mentioned so far is that your work decisions also directly affect your personal life.
We all make huge sacrifices to be in the business that we have chosen, sometimes the sacrifices for some jobs are just ones you don't want to make, especially as you get older.


  • 17 years ago
  • 44
User Deleted
This profile has been archived

And of course, there's Pantomime and there's Pantomime! The scale ranges from the big professional productions playing in "proper" theatres and paying a decent wage, to the productions touring schools or community centres, and paying just enough to prevent you being able to claim Job Seeker's Allowance (only joking - I would never encourage anyone to attempt to work AND claim JSA - it's highly illegal, unless it's less than 16 hours per week).

So, you have to make your own decision, and there are loads of pros and cons covering loads of different criteria, but it sure helps having the opinions of your fellow actors!

Oh yes it is......................


  • 17 years ago
  • 45

Hello all!
In my experience there are some very dodgy small scale panto companies (I can think of one in particular). Who pay crap money, treat you like children and work you like dogs and they deservre to be flogged and worse. I would avoid them like the plague. However a respected theatre panto gig would I'm sure be hard work but a wonderful experience.
That's the way to do it!
All the best.
Jimmy.


  • 17 years ago
  • 46
ALAN WALES
Actor

Doing panto in schools can be fun and at least in working men's clubs you sometimes get a pint afterwards! I also like doing Storytellers tours towards Xmas time but at least with pantos you get work until January and sometimes February.
Mr. T from THE A-TEAM did panto once, I believe. "He's behind you, fool!!"
Has anyone done panto with a celeb?


  • 17 years ago
  • 47

It depends what passes for a celeb these days, but in panto, I've worked with people from Take The High Road, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale and Hi De Hi.


  • 17 years ago
  • 48

I should also add that I've followed this thread with some interest. When I left drama school, I didn't want to do panto, I wanted to do Chekhov Ibsen,Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer etc... but I needed to get professional work under my belt and panto came up and I've now done one every year since 1999. I note that since Ian McKellan has played the dame, a lot of serious actors have suddenly jumped on the bandwagon- those who might not have touched it with a barge pole before. For me, I think it's greatto mix with people from other disciplines that you do not usually work with-comedians, dancers etc... and the wages aren't bad (not amazing, but I won't turn my nose up at £400 a week). Also, it's the only chance to do some of the wonderful comic set pieces that used to grace music hall and vaudeville stages. It's a form that's unique to us and has a long tradition. Pantomimes dames for instance are specialists and artists in their field. And it's a cliche, so a truism, that most people's first experience of theatre is panto and that's perhaps what makes them come back to see us in more serious fare and also has been the starting point in the imagination of many a great career (if that makes sense). Don't do if you don't want to, but don't knock it. On a final note, the Pantomime awards will be unveiled in the near future- I wonder if that'll increase the number of serious actors wanting to do it- a cynical thought, I admit, but perhaps containing an element of truth.


  • 17 years ago
  • 49
Kenny Richards-Preston
Actor, Singer

I'd like to point out that yeah sacrifices are made for the work and as you get older you need to rethink what is important. I have three children, my eldest is 15 this new years eve, youngest turned 10 in MAy, I've sacriced so much to do what I do, and it lays heavily on the family. My kida wouldn't want me to do anything else, they love it, and they love the time I spend with them. My wife however would love me to be at home more often, in fairness when I am home I have to become the disciplinarian because my beloved spoils them so, yet it's me they love to be with when I get home, livid or not.
The only thing out of this I have sacrificed is my relationship with my wife, whom I love dearly, I know she'd rather me stay at home and work like any normal husband. I love my kids, I love my wife, but I fear, and quite rightly so I guess, that she'd rather have a husband who's gonna be there for her. So Sheri please don't take this the wrong way, but I stand with others here who sacrice day in day out. I wish I had the same desire as you to keep it a blancing act, but I thrive on the challenge of new things. Don;t get me wrong, I love my family and wouldn't change a thing, and my hope is that they'll bare with me for a while longer, so much has happened over the last few months, I daren't say too much, but I work in this business for two reasons, I love it, and I want to earn security from it. I have at present the lead role in the musical The Cavern Club, which has had great audiences so far in Liverpool. There's 3 films that I have been involved in which are up for nominations in diferent festivals arounf GB and europe. This is what I sacrifice for, not the fame just the security of more work and more money, I want a solid fiscal base for my family. Ok, there are some that would say get a normal job and look after them then! Maybe I should, I've laid myself open for so much ridicule here in this forum now and you know what? I don't care. My wife could leave me tomorrow, sure I'll be gutted, but my kids? They love me fo me, they are so proud of what I do, and to me? That's the most important thing. Who cares whether I work panto, who cares whether I work film, I've made my bed I'll lie in it, I just wish others would keep this business a professional business, stop this reality public vote crap and keep it real.
Sorry for the gospel preaching, like I said I'm passionate about this business.

Kenny


  • 17 years ago
  • 50
Private User
This profile is private

Can I just say that this was an absolute balst and what made it so great was the two CCP'ers who I was touring with.. legends!

Don;t know if I would do it again but who knows what I shall be doing christmas 2007 .. and if the alternative is sitting at home gorging myself on Satsumas and walnuts I think I know what I shall be doing !


  • 17 years ago
  • 51
You must login as a candidate to participate in the forum.
Please note: Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of The Mandy Network, nor have they been vetted by The Mandy Network staff. If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.