'I’m still loving every moment': 10-year-old Darcie preparing for final days of panto

It’s early January and our pantomimes are still running full tilt.

Did you ever think of the performers in those shows, and how much work they do?

Let’s see, Aladdin started at the Opera House on November 26, and Cinderella at Everyman three days later. They are both still running, Everyman to January 11 and the Opera House to January 18.

That’s a lot of shows, matinees, evenings, your life completely taken over until the last curtain is down and the cast and backstage crew, now almost family, say their farewells to each other.

In early December, we featured ten-year-old Darcie Perrott when she was making her first panto appearance at Everyman. We thought it would be good to catch up with her and see how she is coping after six weeks as one of the three junior teams on the show.

“I’m a bit tired by now, but I’m still loving every moment,” she says without hesitation. “It’s a great experience. And I’ve learned such a lot about theatre, how it all works.”

School has started again, how is that fitted in?

“It’s good, I’m able to manage it all,” says this diminutive performer confidently. “My teacher, Miss Kelleher, is very understanding.

“When I’m playing a morning, I have to take time off school and get my homework done later. If it’s an afternoon show, I leave school early, and do my homework that night; if it’s a night show, I do my usual shift, then my homework, and then get down to the theatre.”

Her parents ensure she gets there a good half-hour before the show is scheduled to start, and then the theatre chaperone takes over, bringing Darcie up to the dressing room where she and the rest of the team must stay – no running around – until they are called.

No chocolate to be consumed, in case it gets on costumes. No mobiles or gadgets either, adds director Catherine Mahon-Buckley firmly. Discipline is all-important backstage. Costumes must be hung up carefully after use, and each child is responsible for ensuring that all the pieces are there. Stuck zips or missing buttons are dealt with by wardrobe, but if it’s just a small tear or rip that isn’t really noticeable, says Darcie, they go on stage anyway, and have it dealt with later. (Now that shows practical direction from the top!)

There are nine junior performers in each of the three groups. “I have a matching partner in each team and if I couldn’t make it, one of them would take my spot,” says Darcie. Is there anything the team haven’t thought of?

Most exciting moments?

“The opening I love, and the Transformation when everyone gets dressed up so beautifully.”

And any odd events?

“Yes, an elf took Buttons’ hat and he was looking for it everywhere. We didn’t know the elf had it. And the same elf took our bows, and we didn’t know who had them!”

What? Is this the old Everyman ghost resurfacing?

No, reassures the laughing director, it’s a mischievous elf on the shelf backstage who play tricks that the kids enjoy thoroughly!

Darcie’s last word?

“I would recommend panto to anyone. Go for it!”

And here is a tribute from Joe Aherne, head of Bishop Murphy school in Fermoy, who brought a group of special students from their Rainbow and Solas classes up to that panto. “It was the first time we’d done this and of course there was an element of worry, but we were so delighted we did.

“All the boys loved it, they were engrossed in it. And the theatre did everything for us, checked for anything we might need. Our lads wouldn’t stop talking about it all the way home, and the feedback from parents was amazing.”

What a lovely tribute, Joe, and thank you for sharing that. Everybody should enjoy theatre.

As always, Theatre Nights will bring you the latest and most exciting information in the months ahead. Happy New Year!