“Now comes the hard work,” said Trevor Herrington, director of the latest pantomime from The Algarveans Experimental Theatre Group, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood. Trevor had just realised that the show was only four weeks’ away. Rehearsals for the group’s 20th pantomime started before Christmas and have been going apace ever since.
“I now know how Danny Boyle felt coordinating the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games,” added Trevor. Mind you, Trevor does not make it easy for himself as he has been holding rehearsals twice a week for his principal actors, an additional rehearsal for his chorus members and another one with the children involved in the cast. Add to this the fact that he has coordinated the set painting and has written some original music for the show – you can understand why he makes the comparison to the Olympics.
“There is a lot to do and sometimes it feels like you are juggling jelly, but we have a lot of fun putting on a show and the end result is always worth it,” said Trevor.
The show promises to be one of the best yet and boasts one of the largest casts the group has assembled for a pantomime with some familiar faces on stage alongside a number of new members who have parts with the group for the first time.
Tony Sanders returns to pantomime after taking a break for a few years and he is really enjoying Nurse Molly Coddle with all the cheekiness that you would expect from the traditional pantomime dame. “I am having so much fun at rehearsals and it is brilliant to have some new faces to act with too.”
The show is playing at Lagoa Auditorium on Wednesday to Friday, March 12 to 14, at 8pm. Tickets are on sale at €10 for adults and €5 for children by emailing [email protected] or calling 913 723 611, 966 211 634 or 282 496 635.
Photo: Some of the cast at rehearsal in Lagoa
