Its the Friday before christmas and all through the theatre the buzz of people streaming through the theatre's main doors can be heard. Yes its panto time and its well and truly open!
Rehearsals are out of the way and the curtain went up on Wednesday to a full house. All the preparation backstage and front of house, all that hard work is well and truly worth it to see audiences old and young just enjoying this great British tradition.
I've just been standing in the wings at today's matinee and was lucky enough to see John Barrowman do an amazing flying sequence. The ensemble looked really colourful in their silk costumes and behind the scenes the crew were busy in and around the wings up in the fly tower and lighting box! I love to see the show in action backstage.
We had the news crew from BRMB radio backstage yesterday doing live news bulletins from the company manager's office. Hope you caught them. And last night we had press night some of our guests included Suzanne Virdee from Midlands Today, Jenny Wilkes from BBC Radio WM and our friends at BRMB radio. The Lord Mayor was there as well.
With the christmas holidays just a couple of days away it only leaves me to wish you a very Happy Christmas from all at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
18th December - its all very busy backstage
Well at the moment the cast of Aladdin are busy rehearsing on stage as I write this latest blog.
The 3D genie I wrote about in July is now fully complete and it looks absolutely fantastic on the stage of the Hip. John Barrowman, Don Maclean and the Grumbleweeds are in costume and standing on the stage in front of the Genie rehearsiing their lines for the scene. Very funny.
I've been backstage to wardrobe where Rodney (Head of Wardrobe) and his team are busy sewing buttons and washing clothes. The larger than life costumes for Widow Twankey are pretty impressive. I always love looking in the wardrobe department, the colours and fabrics are beautiful and you get the chance to spot cast members going in for last minute fittings and alterations.
The first performance of Aladdin is tomorrow night and everyone is very busy backstage so I'll finish now and update you a little more tomorrow.
The 3D genie I wrote about in July is now fully complete and it looks absolutely fantastic on the stage of the Hip. John Barrowman, Don Maclean and the Grumbleweeds are in costume and standing on the stage in front of the Genie rehearsiing their lines for the scene. Very funny.
I've been backstage to wardrobe where Rodney (Head of Wardrobe) and his team are busy sewing buttons and washing clothes. The larger than life costumes for Widow Twankey are pretty impressive. I always love looking in the wardrobe department, the colours and fabrics are beautiful and you get the chance to spot cast members going in for last minute fittings and alterations.
The first performance of Aladdin is tomorrow night and everyone is very busy backstage so I'll finish now and update you a little more tomorrow.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Aladdin rehearsals in London
It’s been a while since my last blog but now that rehearsals are in full swing I can update you on what’s been going on behind the scenes this year.
Paul Elliott who has written, devised and is directing Aladdin kindly granted permission for me to attend pantomime rehearsals in London this week and I was lucky enough to get the OK from Paul to bring two local journalists and a photographer with me as well – not always possible as you can imagine.
Rehearsals were taking place in what looked like an old school right in the middle of an estate in London – as we got out of the car I wondered whether the people in the flats opposite knew that one of the biggest names in showbiz was rehearsing for the UK’s biggest panto right on their doorstep!
The lovely Ian Sandy, who is Company Manager greeted us and took us into a room where the ensemble were rehearsing one of their amazing dance routines which they had put together that morning – quite something – fast, energetic and fun – I was out of breath just watching them. Photographer busy snapping away the two journalists took notes and did some interviews before Paul came in to say hello and we were invited downstairs to where John Barrowman and the rest of the cast were rehearsing one of the main scenes.
This is really right at the start of putting a production together and it was wonderful to see Paul in action directing, changing lines, moving people around, humming a tune (in place of the band!). We were invited to stay for around 20 minutes which gave the journalists enough time to take further notes and photographs. The Grumbleweeds, who I remember from their brilliant television shows, were hilarious, out of costume and without props the routine they did was still really funny and I can’t wait to see it properly in the panto.
It was great to see John Barrowman in rehearsal, a true professional, moving across the rehearsal floor he rehearsed a scene with the beautiful Princess Yasmin played by Lila McConigley and Masashi Fujimoto who plays her father. I could just picture the water feature and bright costumes on the Hippodrome stage – I glanced at the journalists who were busy writing in their note books when suddenly a roar of a voice was heard across the room. It was Peter Gallagher who is going to play our evil Abanazar. Standing over 6ft he towered over everyone and had a fantastic booming voice for a baddie! - So be prepared to hiss and boo when you see him!
We had the opportunity to see Don Maclean in action. He plays Widow Twankey who is Aladdin’s mother. Don must be one of the best Dame’s in pantoland and he’s a home grown talent too! I remember him on Crackerjack and BBC Radio 2 – and I believe this will be the fifth time he has played Dame here at the Hip.
All too soon rehearsals were over for that morning and the cast were off for a well earned lunch break. God knows where they go to eat though – we were in the middle of nowhere!
Cab booked I gathered the group and we were on our way back to the station bound for Brum – Virgin BLT and coffee all round!
Aladdin company arrive in Birmingham to continue rehearsals next week. Watch this space for updates.
Paul Elliott who has written, devised and is directing Aladdin kindly granted permission for me to attend pantomime rehearsals in London this week and I was lucky enough to get the OK from Paul to bring two local journalists and a photographer with me as well – not always possible as you can imagine.
Rehearsals were taking place in what looked like an old school right in the middle of an estate in London – as we got out of the car I wondered whether the people in the flats opposite knew that one of the biggest names in showbiz was rehearsing for the UK’s biggest panto right on their doorstep!The lovely Ian Sandy, who is Company Manager greeted us and took us into a room where the ensemble were rehearsing one of their amazing dance routines which they had put together that morning – quite something – fast, energetic and fun – I was out of breath just watching them. Photographer busy snapping away the two journalists took notes and did some interviews before Paul came in to say hello and we were invited downstairs to where John Barrowman and the rest of the cast were rehearsing one of the main scenes.
This is really right at the start of putting a production together and it was wonderful to see Paul in action directing, changing lines, moving people around, humming a tune (in place of the band!). We were invited to stay for around 20 minutes which gave the journalists enough time to take further notes and photographs. The Grumbleweeds, who I remember from their brilliant television shows, were hilarious, out of costume and without props the routine they did was still really funny and I can’t wait to see it properly in the panto.
It was great to see John Barrowman in rehearsal, a true professional, moving across the rehearsal floor he rehearsed a scene with the beautiful Princess Yasmin played by Lila McConigley and Masashi Fujimoto who plays her father. I could just picture the water feature and bright costumes on the Hippodrome stage – I glanced at the journalists who were busy writing in their note books when suddenly a roar of a voice was heard across the room. It was Peter Gallagher who is going to play our evil Abanazar. Standing over 6ft he towered over everyone and had a fantastic booming voice for a baddie! - So be prepared to hiss and boo when you see him!We had the opportunity to see Don Maclean in action. He plays Widow Twankey who is Aladdin’s mother. Don must be one of the best Dame’s in pantoland and he’s a home grown talent too! I remember him on Crackerjack and BBC Radio 2 – and I believe this will be the fifth time he has played Dame here at the Hip.
All too soon rehearsals were over for that morning and the cast were off for a well earned lunch break. God knows where they go to eat though – we were in the middle of nowhere!
Cab booked I gathered the group and we were on our way back to the station bound for Brum – Virgin BLT and coffee all round!
Aladdin company arrive in Birmingham to continue rehearsals next week. Watch this space for updates.
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