Building panto sets in heatwave is 'quite surreal'
BBCWe may be in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record, but behind the scenes at some West Midlands theatres, the making of a winter tradition is well under way.
At the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, festive jokes and songs are already taking shape as preparations begin for this year's pantomime, Treasure Island.
For Ian Adams and Tam Ryan, who write and star in the show's annual production, Christmas is never far from their minds.
"It constantly occupies our thoughts," Ryan said. "We're constantly thinking about what we are going to do in December in July, which is quite disorientating."
The pair started working on the script last September, picking it up again in January after last year's panto run.
As for what the next few months will hold as panto season fast approaches, Adams said: "When the script is written, the show is then cast. Once we know who is playing the roles, we can adapt things as necessary."
"Autumn is where we really hit the ground running," Ryan added.
While sets are already being built, he said that the cast would be fitted for their costumes ahead of the press launch in October, before assembling for rehearsals in November.
The Grand Theatre's production of Treasure Island will run from 28 November until 3 January, starring Adams and Ryan with celebrity casting yet to be announced.
Last year, their production of Sleeping Beauty was named Best Pantomime over 950 Seats at the UK Pantomime Awards.
Meanwhile, in Stafford, work is well under way on the scenery and props for Lichfield Garrick Theatre's production of Robin Hood, as well as about 10 other pantomimes.
Pete Bruus of Staffs Scenic Solutions and Tim Murley of Unit 1 Scenery spend a significant amount of their time working on pantomime sets. Bruus is in charge of building the sets, before passing them over to Murley to paint them.
Bruus said it felt strange creating festive scenes while temperatures soared outside.
"Sometimes when you are working in here and it's as hot as it is and you're doing Christmas shows, you are building panto sets, it is quite surreal," he said. "But that's the industry. That's what we do."
Bruus, 43, has been working in theatre since he was a teenager, starting as a stagehand at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. He went on to study theatre at university before working at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry for 13 years. He now runs his own business.
"Panto has been very much my life since 15 years of age," he said. "I couldn't tell you how many panto sets I've built, I've built so many."
Bruus said that Lichfield's production of Robin Hood had been on his radar since January, and he had since picked up more panto and Christmas work, designing sets for Imagine Theatre and Wise Owl Theatre. He added that he expected more festive projects to come in over the next few months.
"We want to make sure that we don't overwork ourselves," he said. "Realistically we only have three months - pantos start going in November. The next three months is going to be full on pantomimes and Christmas shows."
Murley added: "I'd say half the year's definitely taken up by panto and other Christmas shows and it just builds up, particularly from now, it really starts to build up until November."
Daniel Buckroyd, chief executive and artistic director at Lichfield Garrick Theatre, said that he was "chuffed" to see the panto set "coming to life".
"We started work designing our production of Robin Hood last autumn, but it was just designs on paper and designs in a model box, so it's fantastic to see it coming to life and working with creatives like the team here, the set builders, to bring that vision to life," he said.
"It's brilliant and colourful and the audiences are going to love it."
Robin Hood opens on 20 November and runs until 10 January.
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