The Secret Panto...Ssshhhh Part deux

As promised (threatened) here are a few more pictures of the set during the dress rehearsal, which was well before first night so a lot of evolution occurred between times, masking of truck wheels, more painting etc.

I guess I should say "Spoilers below" but unlikely anyone looking at this is planning to see the show, so enjoy.

First the original wall awaiting the elusive bench and cherry tree...

Palace wall without the bench and tree (see end of previous entry)

Twankey's Laundry

Washing machine - note the door is double glazed perspex and during the show has water (with Oilatum to show under lights) in the gap to about a third of the way up, it also rotates back and forth (on a wash cycle!) masking the stick on the head, and then the "shrunk" policemen exits front.

The magic bush - addition is a Monty Python finger above it at the appropriate line.

And the bush parts... to reveal a hidden cave entrance...

Bush parted, stone "rolled" to one side and cave entrance beckons

More Laundry mayhem, leading to Flat Washey...

Working rollers draw in the red blanket that Wishey Washey has been told to "NOT let go of..." suffice to say he gets pulled through the rollers after the blanket - sorry no photo of that bit doh!

A short while later following a neatly folded blanket out pops...

Flat Wishey Washey! Sent to the steam room to "fluff up..." oohh errr...

How not to aim a confetti cannon at the front of house LX bars... Now fired from back over the cast and works better with less clean up!

The Secret Panto... ssshhhhh

Just a quick update on what has been going on here.
Have become involved with a society called the Secret Panto Society here in France, they perform around seven shows in January each year of a traditional English Pantomime.
They have turned out to be a great bunch of people, and very welcoming, I first got involved late last year in the set building, Twankey's house, giant mangle, giant washing machine and counter all had to be built before getting into the theatre.

The actual get in at the Theatre took place about 4 weeks before the first performance! Over the Christmas holidays those that were still here - by choice or by weather in the UK! - got to work assembling and painting the main set elements. When I got back from the UK the main pieces were ready and it was more building and painting that was required.

I was "awarded"(?) the job of constructing a cave entrance with moving stone, covered by a magically opening bush - and yes that has provided no end of innuendo laden comments over the last month, unfortunately that got worse once we also added the "big finger" for the bush ala Monty Python!!!

Original image of a Chinese dragon head for reference

Already we have had three shows, although the evening shows starting at 20.30 makes for a late night! All went well and a few minor running repairs have kept the show going with no major issues.

Illustrator version of the dragon head hand drawn using Pen tablet

Full houses and audiences of mixed French and English speakers have been hugely responsive, on the whole in the right places and with the right words...

Photoshop coloured version for reference, also printed a version out with a grid overlay to aid copying full size onto set

The archway with full size head in place, some minor colour changes but essentially the same as my original design - now about one metre square with a pyro silver sparkle thing that fires from the mouth.

I will post a few pictures with some basic descriptions of what each one is, and point out the practical elements of the various pieces, so if you are interested please read on...


Below some of the finshed set elements and how they look onstage - not lighting not accurate for the scenes and converted jpg shows a lot of noise but they are okay for reference...

The rather impressive - and rather large statues being assembled

Some detailing added to the block colour of Twankey's exterior... ohh err!

Glueing, sewing and general finishing off on the go

Statue with Junior getting under foot...

"A bench and a tree is what is needed" - DH Director - Hope that this fitted the bill, was done the night before opening so may have been better given more time. Think I just about got the "3D" effect there...

More to follow in part two as I haven't even shown you my bush with the secret hidden cave behind it...