Rehearsals Well Underway For Opening Night At The Panto

Mansfield Palace Theatre is a hive of activity as the opening night of this year’s pantomime draws nearer.

“Peter Pan” will open at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Saturday 26th November and this week, cast and creative arrived to set up camp at the theatre and begin intense rehearsals on Monday.

Former Coronation Street baddy Marc Bayliss stars as Captain Hook said “Every minute (of rehearsals) is very precious, it’s pretty manic basically you’ve got a full nine days before you start actually getting on the stage and working with the crew for the technical side of things. So we’ve basically got nine days to put something like twelve different songs in the piece therefore 12 difference dance routines. Then we’ve got the fights to choreograph as well – what’ve managed to do so far is block pretty much three quarters of the whole show and then come Friday, that’s when we put it all together for the first time.”

With shows twice a day six days per week, the cast and crew are based nearby for the duration of the run, Marc said he’s not had time to settle into Mansfield life yet “Its great, although to be honest I’m either in my bed asleep or here in the theatre or eating! That’s pretty much it at the moment, but its great it’s a nice walk into work in the morning”

“Peter Pan” will also feature several youngsters who have been selected to appear in the production, and experienced theatre actress Hayley-Jo Whitney, who plays Mrs Darling and the mermaid – said “the kids are really funny actually, especially the Michael’s the little ones – they’re hilarious. If we fluff a line, one of them yesterday sighed and said “I thought I was working with REAL actors” they are just brilliant! I’ve been doing this since I was a kid and I think as a kid you have no fear of making mistakes you just put everything out there”.

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