Hi everyone
It's Maurice here! Making the inaugrual blog for the inaugural flight of Aladdin at Watersmeet this Christmas time!
I think this blog will be a great way for people to find out what's going on behind the scenes. The countdown for panto is well and truly under way and as I'll be directing the production and appearing as the ever-so-evil Abanazar too, I'm going to be pretty busy. In fact it already feels like I'm living and breathing Aladdin.
I have some great ideas for the show. I've been to Watersmeet twice since the summer and the great thing about the venue is I will be able to use the whole stage.
This isn't always possible because of bad sight lines, but with the Watersmeet stage everyone can see the action, be it on stage or off, so I will have the cast making entrances from behind the audience as well as from the sides, and indeed the show will start at the box office where the audience will be meeting comedy coppers PC Ping and PC Pong!
I have had a number of conversations with Louise, who is playing the Genie of the Lamp and also choreographing the production, and we are turning my thoughts and hers into one shape. It really will be an action packed show, but when you've got an adrenaline fuelled action man like Peter Duncan starring in the show, you know it's going be high energy!
So the show is blocked, I know where all the characters should make their entrances and exits and where they should be on stage during a scene. The scenery will be arriving at Watersmeet at the end of November and I'm sure audiences are going to be impressed - simply stunning.
I now have all the music for the show and will be talking to Simon the MD about play on and play off music.
Meantime lighting the show has to be talked through with the lighting designer.
Louise and I are meeting up before rehearsals and before the rest of the cast arrive so we can develop the relationship between Abanazar and the Genie. The idea is this genie is going to be very street wise, very much of today whilst Abanazar thinks he has all the answers to every problem and strongly believes that young people are a complete waste of time. A bit of a grumpy old man really! Oh no he isn't!
If you wondered what the first day of rehearsals is like, it will go a bit like this: we will meet and greet over tea and coffee. I'll go over all the housekeeping duties such as where the cast can park, who they contact is they're ill, emergency procedures and things like that before we sit down and go through the lines. And we're starting with Scene 2 first. This might sound illogical but I have my reasons!
Luckily most of us met for the panto party launch in September so that has helped break the ice and we know each other a bit better now. Unfortunately Kelle Bryan from Eternal was on tour when we launched so we haven't met her yet.
So it's all systems go!
Don't forget to get your tickets for Aladdin! The magical carpet ride to pantoland starts on Friday 12 December until Sunday 4 January. You can book at
http://www.watersmeet.co.uk/ or call the box office on 01923 711 063.
In the mean time, I'll be dropping into the panto green room to keep you up to date. I'll bring you news direct from the first day of rehearsals and hopefully we'll be able to get some of the cast to call in and leave a message.
Oh, and for younger audience goers Watersmeet has a great competition going on at the moment. The
Big Pants Panto Competition! It's a great idea. You need to download the pants template from their website -
http://www.watersmeet.co.uk/ or get one from the box office, and then design some pants for
Widow Twankey. A winning design will be picked in November and if the Dame likes them then the pants will be making an appearance during one of the scenes in Aladdin.
I'm not sure what Widow Twankey will be looking for design wise, maybe she could drop us a line...
Today I am excited about: Actually starting rehearsals
Today I am concerned about: How will I make Aladdin's carpet fly
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