We will be recruiting this year!

Hello Boys and Girls and welcome to 17th century China! Or something along those lines. The RAF Brize Norton Theatre Club (BNTC) is currently putting on the Panto Aladdin! …CHINA with a big chunky question mark I hear you say… ‘Yes… Aladdin, in China, is weird. I kind of agree.’ But it’s Panto; where only some things make any sense. Anyway… this Aladdin is a street Urchin in China. And it’s Panto, so his mum is ‘Widow Twanky’ and his ever chipper brother is ‘Wishy Washy’. Making sense now? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe Panto isn’t your bag. Well, it’s not for everyone. But it’s a Great British Tradition. Complete with inept evildoers, a bungling comedy duo, men in drag, women dressed as men etc etc… Either way the BNTC cast and crew love to ‘put on a show’ and Panto is their favourite!

WE WILL BE RECRUITING THIS YEAR!

Ok I’ll stop now.

During Covid the club had to skip a year of panto (Jan 2021). Then - even though we weren’t out of social distancing at the start of last year – the club members insisted on doing a panto anyway. Putting on a show costs money: the Licence for the script and any music, the costumes, sets, props etc. These costs are recouped by ticket sales. With social distancing the audience sizes had to be limited because everyone had to sit apart. The same issues everyone was dealing with everywhere. Instead of raising ticket costs we decided to come up with a clever plan. We decided to do the same Panto two years on the trot. One set, fewer new costumes and the script licence was even cheaper as we got a bulk deal. So this is actually the second Chinese Aladdin we’ve done in as many years. Being the armed forces, nearly all the cast is new due the usual shuffle.

The standard remark from new members of the club - when they get a part in one of our shows – is: ‘It’s a commitment’. Because the shows don’t just happen. It takes a few months (yup, months; I’m good at this recruitment thing huh?) rehearsing scenes, songs and dances, set building, developing the sound and lighting schedules in order to be show ready, and it’s fun, but sometimes hard. The show itself is the payoff: if the show’s going well and the audience is having a good time - I promise you - the cast will be enjoying themselves even more back-stage! That is until the director shouts at them (in hush tones) to be quiet, because we don’t have much room back there and we wouldn’t want the audience to hear. Why is ‘doing’ the show so much fun? Hmm… a bit to do with adrenalin and accomplishment and a lot to do with teamwork, but at the end of the show run - Sat matinee, Sun matinee, Thurs Evening, Fri Evening, Sat matinee and Evening and then a final Sunday matinee - there’s always an aftershow party. Then everyone is overjoyed because they had so much fun, but also sad because it’s over until the next show, or almost a year for the next panto!

We have a sizable youth theatre and some of the kids as young as 7 aren’t used to the suddenness of it all ending and can be quite emotional.

Well, the club have all that to come this weekend because we’re mid-week of the Panto run as I write. We love Panto and if the idea of it appeals to you, we’re always looking for our next new talent. Absolutely no experience required, if you can’t sing a note and have two left feet there will still be a part for you; we cater for all. We’re especially interested in ‘blue-suiters’ and their dependents joining as we’re here for you and your families. If you’re aircrew or a shift worker and are worried about the commitment, we will cater to you, and work around missed rehearsals; that’s the very point of this club. If like many of the club members you’re not fussed about getting up on stage, we have backstage, light and sound and even front of house staff positions available. So there’s something for everyone. In time we also want to train up some new directors. So please get in touch if you’re interested.

Flt Lt Kurt Baldwin (OiC)

Contact the Club:

Club Secretary – Richie Barber

07950578824

Box Office – Brian Cullum 07521725005

OiC – Kurt Baldwin 07734202232

WHEN: WHERE: TIME: COST:

LOO LOO LOOK

Thursday 16th March 7pm - 10pm

Community Support Centre

£10 per person includes 6 card games and a musical round

Tickets available from Community Support cash only

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