Penning A Pantomime
The Script
I was somewhat unsure of where to start. Writing a full length pantomime seemed a bit daunting. Unsure of how to write a pantomime, I browsed Facebook for a while before turning to Google and typing “How to write a pantomime”. This turned out to be very helpful, turning out results by the hundreds… which seems unnecessary seeing as nobody ever looks past page one. One site really proved to be useful and if my blog inspires you to ever write a pantomime, I suggest you check out its-behind-you.com. It was very helpful in providing me the story of Aladdin, from beginning to finish, along with character info and traditions that follow the panto. One of the key things the site taught me though was that alliteration is very important.
So, possessing the primary plot of the panto, I proceeded to pen, or key as it were, a prologue. The great thing about panto is that the characters in it are the same. You don’t need to come up with characters (unless you’d like to add your own characters to put a stamp on your incarnation). I began writing the script in early December whilst at my brother’s abode. I was amazed to discover that with panto, when you begin writing, it’s very easy to let your imagination and your humour run wild. I managed to write the prologue that evening and went on to begin the next scene in the morning.
Unfortunately, whilst writing a panto is fun and the panto itself is meant to be light-hearted and entertaining, it does still need structure and plot. If you try too hard to find these things however, I’ve discovered it leads to writer’s block. Having written the first four or five scenes, I found myself in a position where I did not know where to take the panto. I did the professional thing to do in these situations, which is to switch off my laptop, go downstairs, watch some television and have a drink (non-alcoholic of course).
Returning to it an hour or two later in the hope that my mind had cleared, I sat at my laptop ready to begin writing again. I sat there… for quite… some… time… still not sure… where… I was going… to take it. I looked online, again, and searched for plot devices and ideas. However, none of this seemed helpful to me so I decided to play some Xbox. I left my panto for a good three weeks (although it was during the Christmas period so can you blame me when you have new stuff?).
One thing I’ve really discovered since writing a panto is that sometimes, if you can’t seem to write anymore, then just don’t! Leave it for a week or two, in my case three and come back to it then. Often, your mind has been allowed to clear fully and has lots of space for new ideas and creativity!
Although, I have uncovered a horrible flaw when writing plays! I found that while I was writing the characters and the story, that I would have ideas flood into my head with visions of what it would look like, who could be in it! I worry that this might occupy a large part of your brain and reject any new ideas that might be even better than the current ones! Oh well. Surely the sign of a good writer is being able to look at words objectively?
I soon got back into my writing and it was full steam ahead. I seemed to do nothing but write the panto and at one point, I became concerned I might be obsessed! I carried on writing and added jokes by the bucket load! I noticed that endings are the hardest part to write! I struggled on my final few scenes for a couple of days unsure of how to end my panto. After all, they say that it’s not how you begin, it’s how you end. So an ending needs to be grand and important, sleek and clever. Oh well, I’m sure mine will do.
Now, exactly two months on (I started on the 4th December and have now finished today, 4th February), I have finished writing the script for my pantomime! It’s been challenging at times and sometimes I felt like I was in way over my head, but now that it’s finished I think it’s something to be proud of. I hope this blog has been informative or helpful… or at least entertaining.
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