Ever wondered what a normal day in February is like at Imagine Theatre Head Office? In the next group of episodes of Just Imagine, we're going to delve into the workings of Imagine as a company. For Episode 23, Martin takes a walk around Imagine HQ on a normal day in February, chatting to the team and finding out what we do when the curtain is down and we're preparing for our next pantomime season. It certainly isn't a quiet on the day he pops in!
Martin Ballard talks to members of the Imagine Theatre team about the highs, the lows, and the unique challenges of the 2021 panto season. With all the uncertainties surrounding the ongoing pandemic 2021 was a season unlike any other and the team discuss the various issues that they encountered and the way the company and the productions had to adapt to ever changing circumstances in a heartfelt and honest look back at the season.
Laura Taylor is the guest on this festive edition of the podcast. She talks to Martin about her extensive career in the panto world, including some of the fascinating people she has worked with, and they even find the time to pull a few Christmas crackers!
The owner of some of the highest heels in showbusiness JP McCue plays dame in Leamington each Christmas and has a huge following for his alter-ego Mary Mac. Join him as he talks to Martin about his career as well as his love for pantomime.
This week it is Robert Marsden’s turn in the hot seat as he talks to Martin about how his love for theatre stems from his theatrical experiences as a child, why he thinks pantomime is so special and his love of teaching.
A highly recognisable face due to her roles on television shows such as Still Game, Jane McCarry joins Martin to talk about her career on both stage and screen as well as sharing some hilarious anecdotes from her time in the industry.
There are not many people who know more about pantomime than Simon Sladen and this week Martin chats to the V&A’s Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Performance and creator of Panto Day about the history of the genre and just what it is about panto that he loves so much!
Despite being told “people like us don’t do that” when she said she wanted a career in theatre, Janice Dunn has gone on to be a hugely successful director and writer and she joins Martin to talk about how a working-class girl from Liverpool fell in love with theatre and just what the industry means to her.
This week Martin is joined by lighting designer Jamie Corbidge. With his first word ever being ‘lights’ it is not surprising he has gone on to have a hugely successful career which has covered everything from pantomime to working at Knebworth and the Millennium Dome.
Iain Lauchlan, co-creator of The Tweenies, panto dame extraordinaire and key figure in the history of Imagine Theatre joins us to talk about his television career, his love of panto and how the pandemic has led to him undertaking some exciting new projects.
Something different for the ‘Just Imagine’ podcast series, Martin sits down with Imagine’s Managing Director Steve Boden, and our Artistic Director and renowned pantomime writer Eric Potts to talk about the pantomime Cinderella. This is the first of several ‘special’ podcast episodes, spread over the next 2 years, where we work through the popular pantomime titles in turn, examining them in more depth by talking through the title’s roots, the background story, the unique elements ...
This week Martin interviews the incredible Nigel Ellacott, pantomime dame extraordinaire and the brains behind the encyclopaedic pantomime website www.itsbehindyou.com. Join them both in this fascinating walk-through pantomime over the years. Listening to Nigel talk, you’ll soon understand why the UK Pantomime Association chose him as the recipient of their 2022 award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of pantomime.
Martin talks to renowned set and costume designer Mark Walters about his unusual route into theatre design, those that have inspired him, how the creative process works and some of his favourite and most challenging designs.
On the podcast this week is West End star and choreographer Jane McMurtrie. She talks about how she knew from an early age she wanted to be a performer, how she came to star in the West End, what it’s like being married to a fellow performer and a strange mermaid mishap!
This week Martin talks to actor, writer and director Eric Potts about his long career in showbusiness including how he started out in the industry and the fellow performers that inspire him.
Find out more about Just Imagine, the new podcast from Imagine Theatre, one of the world's biggest pantomime producers. Join us as we go behind the scenes and 'Just Imagine' what it would be like to work in the world of theatre and pantomime...
This week, Martin is joined by Divina De Campo and Andy Hockley to dive into one of the most deliciously wicked ingredients of any good pantomime – the panto baddie! Together, they explore the fascinating history of the villain’s role — from the origins of the classic characters to the curious tradition of always entering from the left-hand side of the stage. They’ll unpack the art of playing the baddie, the magic of that love-to-hate dynamic with the audience, and what makes a truly unforget...
The UK Pantomime Association recently hosted their second Panto Panel at the North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford, this time shining a spotlight on the art of scriptwriting and Martin was there to talk to some of the country’s top panto writers. A panel of top writers from across the country gathered to share insights into their creative process — from crafting jokes and choreographing slosh scenes to writing stage directions and choosing the perfect songs for panto. All good pantomimes begin wit...
Actor, singer, and dancer Anita Harris has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning six decades. From chart-topping hits to memorable roles in the iconic Carry On films, Anita has shared the stage and screen with some of the biggest names in show business, including the legendary Morecambe and Wise. A lifelong lover of pantomime, Anita has appeared in countless productions over the years and still delights in attending them whenever she can. Join us as we explore her extraordinary journey through...