Just Imagine

Martin joined the team at a photoshoot and caught up with some of the Imagine team and casts from a number of different pantos.

Jack Malin who is part of the team running the Theatre Café in London and is also playing Prince in Swindon’s Cinderella this year in one of the people chatting to Martin as well Maisie Scarlett who will be playing Cinderella alongside him.

Martin also talks to panto dame Steve Elias who has had a strong career in musical theatre and has also gone on to teach at many of the UK’s top performing arts schools and Nathan Morris and Aled Thomas Davies who are playing Starkey and Captain Hook in Halifax this season.

Andy Nurse has spent many years working as a production manager for Imagine Theatre and also specialises in many of the technical aspects of live performance.

From an early love of playing musical instruments Andy changed course to work behind the scenes in the industry and has worked in many different areas.

He discusses his career with Martin and offers advice on how to get into the industry and gain the necessary knowledge for a successful career  as well as going into detail about the role of a production manager on a pantomime.

From playing a mosquito aged 3 in Alice Through the Looking Glass to the present day Nathan has always loved performing.

Coming from a strong theatre family Nathan was actually in a panto in the Junior Ensemble before he had even been in the audience to watch one and his love of the genre has been with him ever since. He has spent many years as a comic with Imagine Theatre in Porthcawl and Rotherham and this year will be playing Will Scarlett in Robin Hood.

Not only has Nathan worked extensively in theatre he has appeared on television in shows on CBeebies and Nickelodeon and he also teaches and directs. 

Simon Sladen and Steve Boden join Martin to talk about the history of Mother Goose. Although it is not that frequently performed these days it historically enjoyed great success with Dan Leno and Joseph Grimaldi both appearing in early versions of the show and more recently we have seen Ian McKellen playing the role to great success.

They discuss the themes of the show and how many of them have relevance today and how the panto has influenced other productions as well as how its popularity differs between the regions.

A great podcast for anyone interested in the history of the pantomime genre.

Musical Director Paul Burnett’s daughter Caroline joins Martin this week to talk about her father’s career and life growing up with theatrical parents.

Paul was a prolific musical director in the 1950s to the 1980s in the true heart of variety. He conducted multiple royal variety performances, was the MD of choice for people like Morcambe and Wise and many many others. He was also musically involved in countless pantomimes across the UK and spent many years working for Bernard Delfont.

Have you ever wanted to know more about the music in the pantomime? This week Martin is joined by Miles Russell who has spent a number of panto seasons as an MD and Arranger with Imagine Theatre.

From starting out age seven learning to play the trumpet Miles is now a multi-instrumentalist. He has worked as an actor-musician, Musical Director and Arranger amongst other roles.

He talks to Martin about how panto differs from other productions, how the songs are selected, how the music is created – including parts, backing tracks and backing vocals. He also reveals which panto title is his favourite! 

Join Martin as he goes back stage at this year's UK Pantomime Awards. Taking place on Tuesday 18th June at G Live in Guildford, the 2024 pantomime awards were another star studded, glittering evening celebrating all things panto! 

Martin talks to presenters Ore Oduba, Angelica Bell alongside lots of the award winners and members of the UK Pantomime Association board!

This week Martin is joined by former contestant on The Great British Sewing Bee and current Deputy Head of Wardrobe at Imagine Theatre, Adam Brooks.

Adam talks about those early influences that led to his love of theatre and costume. He also discusses his varied career from drama school, to being a Cruise Director, to becoming Deputy Head of Wardrobe for Imagine Theatre and how his on stage theatrical experience influences his approach to his current role.

This week Martin talks to two key members of the Imagine team about how they got into the industry and their experiences of training in stage management. 

Ruth Porter, Deputy Head of Stage Management and Props and Jazmyne Evans, Operations and Production Administrator talk to Martin about how their early experiences of theatre led them to work in the industry and what their current roles at Imagine entail. Plus Ruth talks about the skill behind making some good old fashioned panto slosh!

This week’s episode focuses on the roles of two key elements of any theatrical production – the lighting and the sound. 

Lighting Designer and Programmer Matt Ladkin and Sound Designer and Head of Project Engineering and Head of Education at Orbital Sound Mike Thacker, join Martin to talk about these invaluable roles.

They talk through exactly what each role involves, how the process develops throughout the year from initial production meetings to being in venue for Tech and also discuss how the ever-changing technology has influenced their work.