Scenic Hires

As well as being one of the biggest panto producers in the UK, Imagine Theatre is probably THE biggest scenic hirer to the pantomime industry (we may not hold as many sets as QDOS but we hire more out to other people).

This year we hold 28 complete sets in our stores, and we are using 8 of them on our own productions (we have 9 shows, but we're hiring one in ourselves)- meaning there are 20 to be hired out to others... and if we tell you that at present there are just 4 still remaining for hire, that means we're hiring ses to 16 other productions.

As well as that, there are some productions which are just taking one item (like a beanstalk, or a carriage for Cinderella), some are hiring costumes (we have 10 sets of costumes going out in addition to our own pantomimes this year), and others are just hiring one prop from us.

So this last few days we've been focusing on set hires. Bruce James productions were in today to look at their set and carriage for Cinderella at the Pomegranate, Chesterfield. Friday saw Chris Jordan in as he's hiring from us for Potters Bar, Eastbourne and Fareham, and Phil from Imagine was over in Hereford on Thursday talking about their Beauty and the Beast hire.

Seems that Dick Whittington is the least popular title this year - we have 3 Dick sets left for hire (Maybe it will be popular for the London Olympics in 2012?).... and a Babes in the Wood set. Any takers?! ;O)

Just how many pieces of paper does it take to license the kids this year?

It's that time of year - all the babes auditions are completed now, and we are undertaking the mamouth task that is licensing them all.

There are just short of 160 kids in all the teams for our pantos, plus 50 reserves - meaning 210 licenses to apply for. Each license averages 14 pieces of paper, meaning 210 x 14 = 2,940 pieces of paper (and every single piece has to be double checked to see if it's filled in correctly and returned to the parent if there is a problem with it...)

We then have to take photocopies of everything incase anything goes missing in the post meaning 2 x 2940 = 5,880 pieces of paper

We then have to write to the authorities and obtain the licenses themselves. These can be anything up to 3 pieces of paper PER CHILD - lets say an average of 2 so 210 licenses x 2 = 420. We then have to send the originals to the theatre and keep photocopies back in the office so 2 x 420 = 840

Add the application paperwork (5,880 sheets) to the actual licenses (840) and that gives a total of 6,720 pieces - thats just over 13 REAMS of paper...

And we thought we could become a paperless office - think again!

Halifax Press Launch

Friday 18th Sept saw the press launch for Cinderella at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax...

Back - Anne Micklethwaite as the Fairy Godmother, Jamie-Lee Mason as Dandini, Alice McGreevy as Prince Charming, Nick Barclay and Stuart Slavicky as the Ugly Sisters

Front - Jennie Burrows as Cinderella, Guest Star Doodles the Dog, and Neil Hurst as Buttons

Panto launches and panto babes...

As a good friend of ours put it "Imagine theatre continues its exploration of the UK motorway network" with yet another weekend of trips and activities... and this weekend it's been a weekend and a half!

Friday saw the launch of 'Cinderella' at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax - 7 of the cast were there (or should we say 8, if we count the surprise guest?) along with our fantastic photographer Helen again. Steve, Sarah, Lou and Vicky from Imagine met up with the cast and the venue team for a really great photo shoot - which we think is one of the most colourful we've ever done.

Then Sarah lept on a train in Halifax, and 3 train changes and 6 hours later she found herself in Porthcawl ready for the babes auditions there.

Steve and Louise stayed in Halifax and had a great turn out of kids on Saturday and chose 16 really talented kids and 8 reserves for the panto.

Sarah in the mean time had a crisis - swine flu had hit our choreographer for the day, and there was a time when Sarah was going to step in and dance (not a pretty sight!) - until Laura lept in to our rescue and came all the way from London to be our knight in shining armour. Thanks Laura! Director Rob joined them, and they too chose 16 really talented kids, and 9 reserves.

After an exhausting day, it was back to the office to off load, and then a trip to the Chinese for a quick snack and to catch breath...

Ah, and who said Panto was just for Christmas?

Happy Birthday.... to you and you and you

It's been a busy time in the Imagine offices recently, and so two important days passed without celebration - and one was due to be missed next week. Yes, we're talking birthdays!

Sarah and Phil's birthdays passed without mention, and Ian P's is next week and he's off to Hong Kong with the BBC WW production of Tweenies... so Louise and Steve got plotting, and organised a surprise birthday 'do' for them all.

Three cakes, several pizzas, bottles of champagne fizzy pop, and some AMAZING light up balloons later, we'd had a cracking party! (Thanks Lou and Steve) xxx

Then down to the real business of the day - the Grand Pavilion Porthcawl production meeting. Rob Marsden (Director), Matt Loughran (Musical Director) and Simon Butcher (lighting designer) joined Steve Boden (Exec Producer), Iain Lauchlan (Creatives), Ian Plimbley (Production Manager), Phil Roe (Stores) and Chris Ball (technicals) from the Imagine team to work and plan their way through the show. It took them quite some time, but they got there, and it's looking like a cracking show!

Busiest few days of the year so far?

We're just wondering if this has been the few days of the year so far for the team at Imagine?

Thursday saw Iain Lauchlan, Neil Bull and Louise Redmond auditioning in London to fill our few remaining principal roles - and we're nearly there!

Friday saw Ian Plimbley, Phil Roe and Chris Ball from our technical and stores team working on pulling out alot of sets in our stores to plan for the season, while Louise, Steve and Sarah had a massive planning meeting internally. Iain Lauchlan jetted up to Inverness for some meetings at the venue.

Saturday saw Steve Boden and Louise Redmond undertaking the babes auditions in Crewe while the entire cast of Eden Court, Inverness's production of Jack and the Beanstalk had their panto launch.

Then today (Sunday) Sarah Boden and Neil Bull did the babes auditions in Loughborough, while Louise Redmond and Iain Lauchlan did the babes auditions in Inverness.

Then tomorrow (Monday) sees the panto launch in Loughborough...

And in addition, Steve and Sarah's daughter Holly started school last Thursday...

Phew!

Good Morning Steve - We're, er, in our pyjamas...

31st August 2009 saw the BBC Worldwide UK tour of Tweenies draw to a close after a really hectic few months. The Imagine Theatre team have acted as General Managers for the tour.

The final leg of the tour was particularly busy, so the cast and crew were transported and accommodated in a tour bus, where they slept when not traveling or working.

This morning (1st Sept) saw the team dropped off at various points around the Midlands before a final drop off in London.

And when Steve went out to greet the team this morning and to congratulate them on a tour well done, he was greeted by a cast almost entirely in their pyjamas, trying to grab an extra 40 winks!

Still, makes a change from Tweenies skins, we guess!

The tour is off to Hong Kong next, so all the kit will be packed up and crated over there very soon!