Industry Interview // Sam Rabone // Pantomime Dame // Director // Panto // Actor

Theatre Beard interviews Pantomime Dame and director, Sam Rabone and puts your questions to him about his career, staging a panto production, the rehearsal process and quick changes. We also get an insight into just how much a Dame costume can cost, and what slosh is, and just how many people are involved in staging a Panto Production.
Sam currently is a Dame with, and directs for, Paul Hendy's company Evolution Productions.
As it is a rather lengthy video you might want to jump to a particular section, so feel free to use the time stamps here:
1:15 - What characterises a Panto, and how is it different to a play or a West End musical?
2:20 - Breaking the forth wall, and which characters can do it.
3:50 - How long have you been in Panto?
4:50 - Do the costumes belong to the Dame or to the production?
6:50 - Directing a Panto, and who Sam collaborates with. Casting and planning.
11:35 - How does it work being both a director and performer in the same production?
13:00 - Stage Manager, Deputy Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager
15:48 - Rehearsal process, prioritising, logistics and line learning
17:50 - The set build, costumes and props arriving, tech rehearsal
21:30 - Slosh routines
22:36 - Rehearsing slapstick routines
24:44 - Quick changes and wardrobe department
26:54 - Three essential skills/qualities for a director
Thanks so much for watching - don't forget to subscribe to the channel and give this video a thumbs up!
Sam's photograph by Pamela Raith

[@ruthrouse]

Thank you so much for such an interesting interview. As an amateur actor it is so nice to hear from the professionals, and how many things we have in common.
I completely agree with Sam's comments on slosh scenes, I was lucky enough to do one with my group, involving water, flour and custard pies, and it was indeed the most fun I have ever had in any production. So thanks for a fun trip down memory lane, and I hope I can do it again in the future.

[@Timhotep8724]

Keep up the great work.

[@TheatreBeard]

Thanks Tim!