My daughter has absolutely loved her pantomime rehearsals. Every day, she gets into the car and tells me so much about what she’s done.
I wish I could bottle her enthusiasm. I also wish I could share all her thoughts and observations on the blog, but I can’t write while I’m driving!
I asked her to share her memories of the rehearsals here. Her account lacks that enthusiasm, but she managed to remember exactly what she had done on every one of her first two weeks of rehearsal, which is pretty impressive! I can’t remember what I did yesterday. Or even an hour ago.
So here’s her account of her very exciting couple of weeks…
On the first day, we learned the first dance. It was hard to pick up at first, but at the end I was starting to know it.
On the next day, we learned another dance and had costume fittings and got to see some of our costumes for the first time. I saw the dame’s funny hat and lots of funny wigs.
The third day was just going through the two dances we’d learned. By the end I knew them quite well.
The next day we met the adult characters. They were singing and we were dancing to their singing, rather than the recorded music.
On Friday, we did the same again and learned the bow and the moves for the very end of the show.
On Saturday of the first week we did some acting for the first scene. I found out that I was going to have a line, which I auditioned for with the other small girl from the chorus.
On Monday of the second week we learned a fairy dance, which the tallest girls and the very smallest girl in the chorus won’t be doing.
On Tuesday it was decided that I would share the line with the other small girl from the chorus and we went over the dances.
On Wednesday I got my script and found out I had two more lines and I had to do a bit of acting.
On Thursday I found out I had another acting part with the other girls from the chorus and I have to make some funny ‘dying’ noises. This is when I got the splinter in my leg from crawling off the stage. I’ve got the main part in this bit.
On Friday we did a run-through of all the acting parts and we did some other scenes.
On Saturday we did a full run-through on the stage, with the scenery behind us.
She has worked so hard and learned so much in such a short time. She is so excited about it and so am I! The pantomime opens this weekend and I can’t wait to see it.

November 26, 2015
Well done to her – I always admire the hard work the chorus put in because they are so young
November 26, 2015
Thanks very much! They do work extremely hard! It’s a big commitment, but they get so much out of it.
November 26, 2015
Well done x she’s doing wonderfully . I love panto
She’s working so hard x
November 26, 2015
Thanks very much, she certainly is! I can’t wait to see the show 🙂
November 26, 2015
Oh my gosh I bet you are so proud! I would totally weep and weep!!! x
November 26, 2015
Thank you! I definitely will when I watch her 🙂 x
November 26, 2015
What an amazing couple of weeks. So much hard work is going into it, I bet she’ll he fantastic!! Hope you all have a great time at the weekend x
November 29, 2015
Thank you! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. She was brilliant last night! x
November 26, 2015
It sounds like your girl is doing so well and working so hard! You must be very proud x
November 29, 2015
Thank you! She’s doing it brilliantly and I really am very proud 🙂
November 27, 2015
Wow, I can’t believe the panto opens already?! How long is it on for? I imagine she will be very tired but well done her 🙂
November 29, 2015
Yep, it’s open now! It’s on for five whole weeks. It’s a really big deal for her (and for the rest of us!), but I know she will take it all in her stride.
November 29, 2015
i really hope she enjoys herself, i did pantos when i was younger and have very fond memories of doing it
November 30, 2015
She’s loving it so far! It’s great that you have fond memories, it shows that it’s worth the commitment and hard work!
November 30, 2015
How wonderful, what a great experience this will be for her. I remember acting in pantomimes when I was young, it was so much fun! I’m pleased she is enjoying it. Thank you for sharing with #LoudnProud!
November 30, 2015
Thanks very much, she’s having the best time! I used to act when I was young and loved it, but I could never sing or dance!