Director's Note: We were all devastated when our planned production of the Wizard of Oz had to be cancelled in late September 2025 due to the closure of the Garrison Theatre. It was a moment when we really had to think outside the box and whilst a mummers style production where individual members of cast play multiple cahracrters had been in my head for a number of years, the question was could it be related to panto. With a little creativity, a couple of short scripts to base the show around, some additional writing and thinking of just about every panto and panto routine there ever was, our Pop Up Panto Show was born. With just over three weeks rehearsal time, sourcing basic scenery, props and costumes from our vast stored collection and the determination and hard work of an amazing cast, chorus and production team, we were able to present four 45 minute performances in front of a sell out audience at Mareel, a stage totally unknown to us.
Jennie Atkinson
It was a full on two days in Mareel, building the set, holding a technical and dress rehearsal on the Saturday morning with the first performance on Saturday afternoon at 2pm. Three performances followed on Sunday from 1pm, 3.30pm and 5pm. The set was struck and was back in our Store at Gremista, 50 minutes after the last performance.
A few photographs of behind the scenes:
The cast had to wait upstairs in the Green Room waiting for the call - there were no cans just good old fashioned running up and down stairs getting folk!
Actors: Nicola Fleck, Grace Holland, Donna-Marie Leask, Ronnie Martin, Morag Mouat, Lorraine Peterson, Mandy Phillips, Tanya Robinson, David Smith & John Webster
Singers: Kathy Duffus, Zoe Galbraith, Frances Hornal, Morag Maver, Teresa Slater, Moira Stoneman, Karl Ward, Joyce Williamson & Shannon Williamson
Production Team: Robin Atkinson, Cheryl Cluness, Karen Erasmuson, Nicola Fleck, Doreen Gray, Martine Hall, Val Hall, Alison Martin, Mandy Phillips, Teresa Slater, Fiona Smith &Martin Summers