Learning from Panto, an annual open class

Sunday morning musings. It's been a theatre kind of weekend and it's not over yet. Friday night was all about Panto at Cumbernauld Theatre (oh yes it was), yesterday catching up with some songs and tonight, I'm taking part in a fundraiser show for said local theatre that lost its multi-year funding from Creative Scotland. Now thats a whole different conversation for a different platform but with my L&D head on, let's talk Panto. 

A celebrated end of year theatre trip for young and old alike packs skills and development opportunities long cemented in education and workplace alike. 

In early years education, a trip to the theatre helps to develop focus and concentration. Interaction with the performers, helps to build communication skills (verbal and non verbal ) "behind you"....."where"....."there" ...(cue....mass pointing) It screams team work and collaboration, vital for early years development. There's also plenty to suggest that live theatre through schools can be linked to increased empathy, literacy skills and better classroom behaviour. A theatre trip can be inspirational, building confidence to express thoughts and ideas to peers, and ultimately start the journey towards a career in the creative industries........so what about performers and industry professionals themselves? 

Panto is often linked to a breeding ground for emerging artists. It presents a brilliant opportunity for recent graduates,  to work and learn from experienced professionals and begin to build vital networking opportunities in their field. It exposes a range of genre packed into one show from acting to music to dance and comedy not forgetting the audience interaction.

A critical aspect is also performance agility and stamina, these performers may be running 7 or 8 shows a week where no two shows are the same. There is generally an opportunity to observe a masterclass in improvisation and thinking on your feet if you're in the audience. 

Then there's innovation. Although a Panto is thought and planned well in advance (with bigger productions you generally find out the following year's show at the same time watching the present) the creative development process is generally quite short, so with this in mind there is usually a lot of reactive storytelling to include current affairs and pop culture (if you don't hear 6-7 in Aladdin or Cinderella this year I'll eat my hat) 

I know that part first hand, as I once wrote "Personella" as part of an end of year office xmas conference/party. For that, it was a review of our year in HR and it was played out as a team excerise complete with, scripts, scenes, costumes, improv and even.....a full on Panto horse (two of the leadership team battling to be the front of the horse and not the back)......That was and to this day remains the best team day collaboration ever. 

So, the long and the short, get yourself to a panto this year and observe a masterclass in skills and creative development.