This year I have been chosen to direct Wellington Pantomime Group’s 2022 production. Well, it was meant to be 2021, but the less said about that the better.

Treasure island, a Robert Louis Stevenson tale, makes no reference to pantomime dames or talking parrots. The story is a lesser well known Pantomime story, however, the story of Long John Silver is famous the world over. The script the committee have agreed to stage is by Ben Crocker, an award winning pantomime script writer, which has 16 principal parts and 7 smaller cameo roles. The show has the potential to have a large chorus.

The story, without giving too much away, involves the aforementioned Pirate villain but pitches him against the ‘Smugglers Cove Women’s Institute’! What I like about this script is it’s pace and stageability, lots of quick scenes with plenty going on for the cast and audience. While this will be my first pantomime as director, I’ve been involved in pantomime in one form or another for the last 10 years! I absolutely love the genre because it engages the whole family by telling fun and engaging stories.

We will be announcing our audition process shortly. To get a feel for the show, please email me for more information, including script excerpts and a cast.

Kirk J Shepherd

Kirk.Shepherd@w-a-a.co.uk