Well here we are - Robin Hood opens tonight - can you believe it!
Paul Elliott the Director came up to the offices this morning and said the dress rehearsal was perfect last night - and what a great company they are.
The company will be doing another dress rehearsal this afternoon before the curtain goes up at 7.15pm so a few of us here will have the chance to see the production for the first time - what a nice way to end the week - hissing and booing and singing along with John Barrowman!
It's always really busy backstage on days like this but really exciting - and of course it's even busier for our front of house staff as they prepare to open the doors later to just under 2,000 panto goers.
I always like the atmosphere in our foyer on the first night of pantomime - it's great to see lots of families starting off christmas with a visit to a great British tradition.
Tomorrow is press night so keep a look out for the reviews over the next few days.
Friday, 19 December 2008
Monday, 15 December 2008
When most of the country is getting into the xmas spirit and winding down for the holiday season theatre's are building up to their busiest time of the year. So yesterday's day off from rehearsal was probably very welcome for the panto cast and provided a chance to get in some last minute xmas shopping - let's hope they got what they wanted.
Today saw the first run through of Robin Hood and the rehearsal of a very special piece of magic involving John Barrowman. It all looked pretty impressive and will look 'fantastic, fantastic, fantastic' on stage.
Pantomime wouldn't be complete without mentioning two very good friends of the theatre - Nigel Ellacott and Peter Robbins - the best panto Dame's in the business. They have performed many times here and are over at Nottingham with Brian Conley and getting some great reviews. It's worth checking out their brilliant website www.its-behind-you.com - a wealth of panto history and even some incredible early panto footage.
The sets for Robin Hood have all arrived now and the stage is looking pretty busy at the moment. I'm told that the ice rink is being put in tomorrow - can't wait to see that.
Titan our gigantic robot is awesome - he's got an amazing following - kids seem to love him and to be honest I think the dads will be pretty impressed too.
Four days until opening - !!!!
Today saw the first run through of Robin Hood and the rehearsal of a very special piece of magic involving John Barrowman. It all looked pretty impressive and will look 'fantastic, fantastic, fantastic' on stage.
Pantomime wouldn't be complete without mentioning two very good friends of the theatre - Nigel Ellacott and Peter Robbins - the best panto Dame's in the business. They have performed many times here and are over at Nottingham with Brian Conley and getting some great reviews. It's worth checking out their brilliant website www.its-behind-you.com - a wealth of panto history and even some incredible early panto footage.
The sets for Robin Hood have all arrived now and the stage is looking pretty busy at the moment. I'm told that the ice rink is being put in tomorrow - can't wait to see that.
Titan our gigantic robot is awesome - he's got an amazing following - kids seem to love him and to be honest I think the dads will be pretty impressed too.
Four days until opening - !!!!
Friday, 12 December 2008
Wardrobe Weaves for panto!
Today I had the good fortune to spend a couple of hours with the very flamboyant Tony Priestly who has worked with Paul Elliott and Qdos pantomimes for many years. Tony is responsible for the 300 stunning costumes in Robin Hood. The old dressing room block of the theatre is just covered with an array of costumes from Maid Marion's wedding dress to The Sheriff of Nottingham's robe. Skating costumes, knights costumes and the most amazing head dresses for the girls make it a colourful grotto Father Christmas would be proud of.
Tony has worked with some of the greats in showbusiness from Michael Crawford in the original Phantom of the Opera to more recently a stint with Debbie Reynolds in the American version of Strictly Come Dancing. (for those who don't know Debbie she was Gene Kelly's leading lady in the Hollywood hit film Singin' In the Rain).
As Tony was about to take a call on his mobile four of the cast came in for a fitting - celtic green skating costumes with velvet waistcoats. Tony made sure the fitting was a success and the guys then went back to rehearsals.
Tomorrow night (13 Dec) the final curtain goes down on a very successful season of BRB's The Nutcracker - making way for the set of Robin Hood to be built - our crew will be working round the clock this weekend.
Next week will be really busy for everyone with technical rehearsals, full dress run through and our front of house staff getting ready to welcome nearly 2,000 patrons every night when it opens on 19th - Christmas is nearly here!
Don't forget to book your tickets ! Click here
Tony has worked with some of the greats in showbusiness from Michael Crawford in the original Phantom of the Opera to more recently a stint with Debbie Reynolds in the American version of Strictly Come Dancing. (for those who don't know Debbie she was Gene Kelly's leading lady in the Hollywood hit film Singin' In the Rain).
As Tony was about to take a call on his mobile four of the cast came in for a fitting - celtic green skating costumes with velvet waistcoats. Tony made sure the fitting was a success and the guys then went back to rehearsals.
Tomorrow night (13 Dec) the final curtain goes down on a very successful season of BRB's The Nutcracker - making way for the set of Robin Hood to be built - our crew will be working round the clock this weekend.
Next week will be really busy for everyone with technical rehearsals, full dress run through and our front of house staff getting ready to welcome nearly 2,000 patrons every night when it opens on 19th - Christmas is nearly here!
Don't forget to book your tickets ! Click here
Thursday, 11 December 2008
The magic of panto
The second day of rehearsals saw Paul Elliott (Director & Producer) taking the cast through the dialogue. There's lots to remember especially during a very funny scene when Robin Hood (John Barrowman) takes Will Scarlett (Paul Zerdin), and the rest of his merry men through a complicated drill sequence.
While that was going on Natalia Prestova and Alexei Kislitsyn from TV's Dancing on Ice were in the studio next door rehearsing their spectacular ice dance on the ice rink they will use in the show. They are such a friendly and lovely couple they even took time out to pose for some pictures too.
And in the third studio the choreographer was taking the rest of the cast through some quite amazing dance routines. They really work hard.
John recorded The Royal Variety show yesterday and is back in rehearsals today. It will be transmitted next week.
And later today a journalist will be interviewing the panto wardrobe staff and taking some photographs of the beautiful costumes that line the corridors backstage.
And speaking to our staff in the box office yesterday they are really busy taking bookings for Robin Hood - it seems that people want some fun during these depressing days of the credit crunch and who can blame them.
While that was going on Natalia Prestova and Alexei Kislitsyn from TV's Dancing on Ice were in the studio next door rehearsing their spectacular ice dance on the ice rink they will use in the show. They are such a friendly and lovely couple they even took time out to pose for some pictures too.
And in the third studio the choreographer was taking the rest of the cast through some quite amazing dance routines. They really work hard.
John recorded The Royal Variety show yesterday and is back in rehearsals today. It will be transmitted next week.
And later today a journalist will be interviewing the panto wardrobe staff and taking some photographs of the beautiful costumes that line the corridors backstage.
And speaking to our staff in the box office yesterday they are really busy taking bookings for Robin Hood - it seems that people want some fun during these depressing days of the credit crunch and who can blame them.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Rehearsals in Birmingham get underway
Monday 8th December and rehearsals for Robin Hood have now started in Birmingham. The studios here are full of cast members, props and would you believe it - an ice rink in the dance studios! It can only be pantomime!
The cast gathered in the Green Room this morning with Hippodrome staff for our traditional croissants, coffee and a great big welcome. Stuart Griffiths our Chief Executive welcomed Paul Elliott (Director and Producer), choreographer Paul Robinson, John Barrowman and the cast and wished them a great season at the Hip.
Everyone was in a great mood for a Monday morning - Christmas really starts for us now.
Rehearsals got off to a great start today with two studios being used and everyone getting used to finding their way around the building. As John and the cast rehearsed in one Ian Sandy (Company Manager) got down to some administration next door - sitting on a massive elaborate seat that forms part of the Camelot scene - which I am told is very funny! Later in the day the room was turned into a skating rink - at last Birmingham has its rink back - ha ha!
Tony Priestley (Wardrobe Supervisor) was shoulder deep in costumes which had just arrived off a massive lorry - and he was briefing his staff for the busy few weeks ahead. The sets arrive at the weekend after The Nutcracker season has finished so the crew will have a very busy weekend soon.
The day ended with Terry Grimley from The Birmingham Post arriving to do an interview with Paul Elliott - should be in the paper on the 17th Dec so look out for that one.
Well that's all from the first day - more news from backstage soon.
The cast gathered in the Green Room this morning with Hippodrome staff for our traditional croissants, coffee and a great big welcome. Stuart Griffiths our Chief Executive welcomed Paul Elliott (Director and Producer), choreographer Paul Robinson, John Barrowman and the cast and wished them a great season at the Hip.
Everyone was in a great mood for a Monday morning - Christmas really starts for us now.
Rehearsals got off to a great start today with two studios being used and everyone getting used to finding their way around the building. As John and the cast rehearsed in one Ian Sandy (Company Manager) got down to some administration next door - sitting on a massive elaborate seat that forms part of the Camelot scene - which I am told is very funny! Later in the day the room was turned into a skating rink - at last Birmingham has its rink back - ha ha!
Tony Priestley (Wardrobe Supervisor) was shoulder deep in costumes which had just arrived off a massive lorry - and he was briefing his staff for the busy few weeks ahead. The sets arrive at the weekend after The Nutcracker season has finished so the crew will have a very busy weekend soon.
The day ended with Terry Grimley from The Birmingham Post arriving to do an interview with Paul Elliott - should be in the paper on the 17th Dec so look out for that one.
Well that's all from the first day - more news from backstage soon.
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