How effectively does the performance engage the audience, particularly children and families?

Are there interactive elements that encourage audience participation, such as shouting lines or singing along?

Storytelling and Adaptation:

How well is the traditional pantomime story adapted or modernised to suit the audience and cultural context?

Does the performance successfully balance the elements of comedy, drama, and audience interaction?

Characterisation and Acting:

How skilfully are the characters portrayed, especially the stock characters like the Dame and the Principal Boy?

Are the actors able to connect with the audience and maintain the exaggerated, larger-than-life style of pantomime?

Comedy and Gags:

How effective are the comedy routines, slapstick, and visual gags in generating laughter?

Are there puns and wordplay that engage both children and adults?

Musical Numbers:

How well are the musical interludes and songs integrated into the performance?

Do the songs add to the overall enjoyment and atmosphere of the pantomime?

Production Values:

Evaluate the quality of the set design, costumes, and special effects. How do these elements contribute to the immersive experience?

Is the stage design inventive and imaginative, creating a visually stimulating environment?

Cultural and Social Relevance:

Consider any contemporary references or social commentary that might be included in the performance.

How does the pantomime engage with current cultural themes or issues?

Audience Reactions:

Pay attention to the audience's reactions, including their laughter, participation, and emotional responses.

How well does the performance gauge and respond to the audience's energy and feedback?

Overall Impact:

Assess the overall enjoyment and entertainment value of the pantomime.

Consider its lasting impression and its success in creating a festive and memorable experience for the audience.

Off book by next week – if you only have two lines… it will take you 10 mins to learn

Commit to character

Be aware of own space – can you be seen? Is the space balanced?

Don’t hit the cyclorama on the way past back stage

Opening / It Feels Like Christmas

Decide if you have  a present or not, where do you get it from / where does it go?

Smile when you are dancing / throughout

Check the words

Act 1 Scene 1

Matt, pick up the pace a little – feels like we are waiting for your lines

Act 1 Scene 2

Bad elves enter – faff more like the good elves – remember you’re not bad yet

Act 1 Scene 3

Well done to those bad elves that are off script in the rhyming section

Act 1 Scene 4

Well done with first singing entry

Work on ‘deck the beach’ after ‘spirit to go’

Bri – Sammy’s line ‘maybe you could help us’ turn around to look at islanders too

Chorus remember:

First ‘forgot the list’ only elves look at Izzy

Second – all look

Third – all look and speak

Bad elves (cry and cry and cry)  - need more diagonal spacing, lines = blocking

Act 1 Scene 5

Bri ‘someone forgot the list’ always turn towards audience.

‘Hi friend Jessie, Hi friend Nessie’, etc  - quicker, as soon as they enter stage

Step Into Christmas

Look at the words again

Make the moves dynamic even if you don’t have lots of space – or make space!

Act 1 Scene 6

Trees - Bigger tree positions – more dynamic getting there  

Trees - When bad elves enter, become trees, but move your arms slowly to a new position when your arms starts to hurt

Cedar/Ria – someone kidnapped your friend. Bigger & louder / more movement

Bring it All Back

Words (second verse & pre-chorus line)

Stretch arms

Christmas Time Is Killing Us

Oliver- don’t rush (listen to music, you were a beat ahead)

All spit the words when it is low

Learn the words / listen to music to help you with timing

Lew ‘big bit’ – will go through this with you.

Act 2 Scene 2

Trees – now you’ve heard the music, enjoy the creeping (make it last as long as the track)

I Need a Hero

Add extra leap(s) in dead space.

Backing dancer entrance

Backing singing – make it look like you are really singing along even if you feel drowned out by the backing on the track

Will go over the end of the backing dance / check the videos

Act 2 Scene 3

Transition into this scene after I Need a Hero  - SX / LX and some stage crossing?

At Last I See The Light

Part that is in harmony – look at this, or just sing tune

Act 2 Scene 4

Getting rid of bed? Just clear after Santa stands up?

Melissa E – No More Santa, wait for the noise to quiet down a little before speaking and then come up with a reason that suits your character that means you go back to the place you came from

Sparklejollytwinklejingly

Add something in end for ensemble before last post (twirl)

Make up - more bronzer / blusher and mascara. (See photo for how makeup is affected by the lights) 

STOP TALKING OFF STAGE

Noise leaking through from Fs004.

IF YOU CAN SEE THE AUDIENCE, THEY CAN SEE YOU TOO!!!

Don't touch the cyclorama (white curtain) whilst passing behind side of stage

Sam - different dame bottoms?

Be careful of lights at the back.

Specific Notes:

Alyx first line - wait for applause

Bed entrance needs to be quicker - those taking bed on and Matt, exit opening number before the rest of the ensemble start walking into lines at the end. 

Sam - when talking to individual audience members, make sure the rest of the audience can hear you too.

Bridie when you come on walk in more into the light.

George- Jumper? Costume cupboard

Can everyone smile like Isabella please

Bri walk more into the light when you come on

Sam- Cat will help dress you maybe pin the apron on

Alex R- don't turn your back to the audience (opening elf scene)

Izzy - nominate someone in the wings to help you get the pile of presents offstage 

Wait for black out before island scene

Sam - Island entrance?

dance during present passing scene

If you don't have a present at the end- share with someone 

Evil elves- speak louder when come on, you have to talk over people (e.g. when on rostra in Island scene)

Bridie in island scene - remember to move backwards to make the line diagonal

Shirk/Mule/Winona move into the light when coming off the rostra

Look at umbrella - doesn't work with light.

Ell - Elise will go over entrance to song with you - need to be way more confident / selling it

Sam wait for the 'ting' before you speak after Step Into Christmas.

Need more shocked looks from everyone when presents appear after Step Into Christmas.

Bring it All Back

Zi - good facial expression

DO NOT think its ok if you don't know the words and leave it to a few people to carry the lyrics in this song, that's not fair. Go away and learn them.

Eye line, look up when dancing.

Don't rush clap section - you all went out of time - James is going to push the volume in this section if he can.

Act 2

Azira SHOUT Christmas Time Is Killing Us over the music.

ALL - spit words / louder - the singing doesn't need to be perfect

Xmas time is killing us- Jack can you be pushing Mike when you walk around in the circle

Lew - don't rush that section, put a comedy breath in before 'shell'

Good elves - more scared noises when you come on after Christmas Time is Killing us - to warrant you wishing for Mrs Claus.

Sam- if they are not saying behind you during the music- do the signal of 'what are you saying'

In I need a hero, interact with those next to you when your stood or walking around- cheering them on, holding them back, Tom and Henry are good at this

Sam singing- need to be more confidence with last verse and struggling to hear at the end of hero

Nat / Josh - Table to come back on after Hero / crossing stage scene.

Bri- when you raise your hand to flick Ace- can you raise it like a fist and then last minute turn it into a flick

Don't leave the stage bare in the walking travel scene 

Matt - check lines at the end.

MOre reaction to Fin not being an elf etc

Livi - if Matt blanks towards the end of the last scene, come straight in with 'what do you want to do now you're retired'