Panto season kicks off in Cork with a sell-out show

JACK And The Beanstalk opened last night at the Opera House to a capacity audience.

It’s a measure of pantomime’s enduring popularity that the first six performances are already entirely sold out, and the remainder are going fast, so if you’ve been tardy in securing tickets, don’t wait any longer!

Add to that the joyous dancers and supporting cast, and you have a sparkling show, just the thing to chase away the winter blues.

Have you ever thought, though, just how much goes into putting that pantomime on stage, from behind the scenes? It is quite normal to have far more working backstage than are on stage at any one time. Not only the set movers, lighting team, special effects experts, and prop managers, but also the dozens needed to fetch and carry, check that everyone is in the wings at the right time, give cues for vital moments, and so much more.

And just think of the costume changes, the sudden urgent need for repairs, the constant ongoing whirr of sewing machines, the clip of scissors, the swish of combs through elegant wigs... Getting a pantomime ready for the stage is a mission of almost an entire year - they will be working on the Christmas, 2024, one just about a week after this one closes in January - and the backstage planning takes just as long.

When you’re applauding the Dame waltzing out in yet another lurid outfit, take a moment to calculate just how long she had in the wings to get out of that last outfit and into this one!

It’s exactly the same at the Everyman where Beauty And The Beast opens this Saturday, December 2. “Gosh, yes,” says Catherine Mahon-Buckley, who has been planning and directing the show for the best part of ten months.

“There is a wardrobe person on each show, who prepares all the costumes, and checks each character has all their costumes.”

Then, after that show, there is the washing, pressing, and repairing where necessary for the next performance. Remember, they have different teams of children in each show, so that has to be taken into account too.

“Depending on how many fast changes there are, the wardrobe person would enlist other members of the production to help out. Then there are the wigs which have to placed on special plinths after each show. Maeve Readman re-styles these every second day. I tell you, there as many team players backstage, as on stage!”

Jack And The Beanstalk at the Opera House runs to January 21 with shows at different times of day and evening. Book on 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.

Beauty And The Beast at the Everyman runs to Sunday, Jan 14, also with varying show times. Booking on 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com.

For something a little different, The Improvised Panto, in a late-night slot at the Opera House, will be just your ticket. That’s opening on Friday, December 8 and running to December 23, at 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with an additional Thursday performance in Christmas week.

Definitely not for children this one, and its improvised nature means you can take a hand in how the plot develops! Booking as for the Opera House.

At Cork Arts Theatre this Sunday, December 3, the talented students of the Suzanne Jones Drama Studio presents Funsize. 1.30pm start. Booking on www.corkartstheatre.com or 021 450 5624.

And Ultan Conlon and Mary Coughlan are at the Glen Theatre, Banteer this Saturday, December 2. 8pm start. Booking on 029 56239.