Behind the scenes at Nottingham Playhouse’s pantomime
We went backstage to see how they make it so brilliant...
Nottingham Playhouse’s pantomimes are renowned across the country for being original, high-quality, and fun.
I went backstage at the theatre to have a look around, as well as chatting to Nottingham’s own Tom Hopcroft (who plays Fleshcreep in the 2024 Jack and the Beanstalk show) about why the actors love performing in it.
When it comes to things to do in Nottingham over the holidays, the Playhouse panto is definitely a bucket list item. Jack and the Beanstalk is on until January 18 and the 2025 panto Sleeping Beauty is on from November 28-January 17 2026 (it’s always worth getting in early to get the best prices and seats!).
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“You shoot them down in a way that is lovable — and if you do that, the audience will love it”: Behind the scenes at Nottingham Playhouse’s pantomime
By Eve Smallman
Photos by Pamela Raith Photography
I feel like a doll in a playhouse. There are huge set pieces and props looming over me, and I’m very much feeling all of my five foot two.
I’m behind the curtain at one of the country’s most famous pantos, where everything is being set up for the midday show.
A few weeks earlier I watched the show, so it’s very surreal seeing everything up close. I’ve never really thought about how massive everything has to be, so everything’s visible on stage.
With panto, everything has to be big, bright, and beautiful. Nottingham Playhouse does this especially well. The script is fresh and filled with pop and local culture references, the set and costumes are designed from scratch, and it’s such a fun treat to be swept up in.
“Our pantomime is made by people from Nottingham, for Nottingham, with actual Nottingham knowledge,” explains Tom Hopcroft, who plays Fleshcreep in the 2024 panto Jack and the Beanstalk. “There's so much care and attention goes into the show to make it the best show it can possibly be — and I think the audience can feel that.”
Walking around the dreamy, eclectic backstage, I can see that’s very much the case. Hand-painted sets bursting with character, racks of costumes tucked away in the wings, and people stitching and painting away. The theatre is properly lived in and truly loved.
The show has a four-week rehearsal process, so by the time I look around in late December, it’s running smoothly. “It’s this long because everything is new — nothing has been recycled or passed around from city to city, which a lot of other pantos are,” Tom explains.
He continues, “Having never played a villain before, that time was really useful. I threw myself at it and tried to figure out who my villain was. I think having this length of rehearsal time reflects in the product, which is a very clean, polished, yet crazy show.”
The panto runs from November to January and often has multiple performances per day. I wonder if they go on autopilot after doing a show for so long — but Tom tells me the art of improv and thinking on their feet are very much part of the performance.
“For me, the best moments are the improvised moments, where someone like John [Elkington] who plays the dame comes out with the most ridiculous things and makes everyone laugh,” Tom smiles.
He also says there are challenges to contend with every day — but they’re what make the show memorable. “The other day, I went onto the stage and I was supposed to have my magic beans to give to Jack for the cow, which is quite a big plot point. I went on stage and I realised I didn’t have them — so in the middle of the scene, I just walked off, calmly picked them up, and told the audience I’d forgotten my beans,” Tom laughs. He said they thought it was the funniest thing ever.
Another example of having to improvise is when they have to deal with hecklers. “Over the years, I’ve developed some lines that I know I can go to, that will usually get a laugh. Usually, you have to repeat what they've said, because most of the audience won't have heard it. I'll get wolf whistles in one of my costumes or someone will say that I look nice, and I'll say thank you, you weirdo,” Tom tells me. He continues, “You shoot them down in a way that is lovable — and if you do that, the audience will love it and you’re not actually being mean.”
Tom explains that mistakes and heckles happen a lot, and it’s important for the actors to make a joke out of them. “As long as the audience always knows what's happening and that they’re part of the joke, they enjoy it,” he says. Including in-jokes is something that’s a big no-no in panto. “That’s the worst thing you can do because the audience will recognise that you’re doing something they’re not part of. It's like when someone in your class is whispering. They need to be part of everything.”
That being said, the cast and crew do have their own jokes, as they enjoy each other’s company even when they’re off the stage. “We’ll all sit in the green room together in between shows. We do Secret Santa and we eat Domino’s pizza bought by the theatre. They try to make it as much of a festive experience for everyone as possible because they’re conscious of the fact that we’re away from family for most of the Christmas period,” Tom says.
He chooses to do it every year though because he loves it and knows what it brings to people’s lives. “People will come and wait for us at the stage door and ask for pictures and share their stories, ” Tom tells me. “Perhaps they've come every year for the last 20 years. Or for example, someone said they used to come every year with their mum, but then she passed away. They came on their own for the first time and it made them feel great.”
Moments like these make it all worth it for Tom. “When I hear things like that, I remember that that’s what it’s all about — it’s about connecting with people and them enjoying what we do.”
If you’re thinking about heading to see the Nottingham Playhouse panto, it’s worth knowing that you will be supporting local people and a local institution. As I finish walking around the backstage area, I feel incredibly impressed. Watching the show, you wouldn’t know that there’s a warren of workshops or so much work that goes into every moment.
“The Playhouse panto is always a crazy, fun, fabulous, glittery mess of a show,” Tom finishes by saying. “It is full of amazing dancing, brilliant singing, heartwarming moments, a lot of silliness… and it's all done for the city.”
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