COMMUNITY PANTO 

This annual event, held in December and established in 2012, involves a cast and crew of over 120 people and attracts audiences of 900 people in its 3-day run. Every year, the tickets sell out earlier and earlier.

Buy tickets on our secure site: Ticketsource
General Panto Information
​Weekly rehearsals
Weekly rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings, 7.30-9.30pm (Adult cast only) and Sunday afternoons, 3-6.30pm (Youth cast and Adult cast). All rehearsals are at Crowborough Community Centre. A 'call sheet' will be created which sets out when each scene will be rehearsed, and which actors are needed for each rehearsal.
 
Guide to cast key dates
(in addition to weekly rehearsals)
* Run-through (3 Sundays before production 1.00 - 7.00pm - under 12yrs youth cast called for 3 hours maximum)
* Tech rehearsal (2 Sundays before  production 1.00 - 8.00pm - under 12yrs youth cast called for 3 hours maximum)
* Dress rehearsal 1 (1 Sunday before production  1.00 - 7.00pm  - under 12yrs youth cast called for 3 hours maximum)
* Dress rehearsal 2 (Thursday before production 7PM - 9PM (ish) - under 12 yrs  cast optional)
* Productions (Fri  - eve, Sat - afternoon & eve, Sun - afternoon - times tbc )

Crew
Want to get involved as a member of the crew? Everyone is welcome, new friends and old. If you’re interested in joining the team that puts on Crowborough’s biggest annual show, get in touch. Find the ‘essential reading’ document here , and an online survey to let us know you’re interested here. If you have any questions, drop us a line at [email protected]
Cost
  • Membership of The Crowborough Players (all cast members) costs £10 for under 18s and £20 for adults (other memberships are available).
  • Members of the Adult Cast, and Senior Youth Cast, and Junior Youth Cast pay a performance fee of £10.
  • Cast members need to provide some items of costume.
Commitment
It looks like a lot of fun on stage, and it is, but that's the culmination of months and months of work - work which is also fun! You can't be part of a show this large without a lot of commitment.

All:
  • It should probably go without saying, but we get some queries every year, that ALL cast and crew members are needed for ALL performances AND the key dates above (Tech and Dress rehearsals). Crew members are required for additional dates in the run-up to the show, depending on their role.
Cast:
  • Adult Cast (16+) and Senior Youth Cast (age 12-16) with 'adult rehearsal parts'  rehearse every Thursday evening (7.30PM to 9.30PM)  and Sunday afternoon (3PM to 6.30PM) from the beginning of September until the show in December. Most Adult and Senior Youth Cast members are involved with crewing too.
  • Junior Youth Cast (age under 12) rehearse on Sunday afternoons from the beginning of September until the show.
Crew:
​Depending in their role, crew work around the rehearsals but need to be present:
  • From 1PM to 7PM every Sunday from Run-through rehearsal (3 Sundays before production until the end of the show's run).
  • At  Dry Tech Rehearsal and Lighting (LX) rig  - all day for the two Saturdays before the production.
Crew is also responsible for set build and painting, lighting rig, and get-out. 
Directors, DSM, Sound Op:
These crucial roles are the present at  every single rehearsal, first in and last out.
They are also present at Dry Tech and Lighting (LX rig).
Script Submission
If you fancy writing a script for Crowborough's Community Panto, please sent your outline submission with a sample script element to  [email protected]  by 15th April in the year of production.
2024 - Robin Hood
 Show Information
  • Friday 13th Dec - 7.30pm
  • Saturday 14th Dec - 2.00 and 7.30pm
  • Sunday 15th Dec - 2.00pm
Key Information for all cast and crew​Additional Information for adults, senior youth cast, and crew
2023 - The Three Musketeers
​Cast and crew information
​​​Link to storyline precis, songs, character list: Google Doc (subject to change)
​​​
The Three Musketeers panto on 8th, 9th, and 10th December 2023.

Crew - all welcome experienced or new to theatre  - anyone interested in crewing, contact us at: [email protected]. 

Auditions - all welcome, old friends and new at Crowborough Community Centre, Pine Grove Crowborough.

AUDITION INFORMATION
  • Adults and youth cast over 12 years old - Thursday 7th, and Thursday 14th September at 7.30PM.
    • Audition information: plot precis, songs, and character information: Google Doc.
    • Important information and key dates: Google published doc.
    • Relaxed auditions for Adults (age 16yrs+) and any Senior Youth Cast (12-15yrs) who want an 'adult rehearsal part'*.
    • Initial chat at 7.30pm, followed by group or individual auditions. You can leave after your audition, but there may be some waiting around.
    • Singing: We'll be singing 'Oom Pah Pah' together for a warm up and then in small groups of 4. If you're planning on auditioning for a lead role, please also bring a song of your choice to sing - preferably with a backing track. If you don't have anything to hand you can just give us a rousing rendition of 'Oom Pah Pah' on your own!
    • (* A parent must attend the first 10 minutes of the audition to be briefed on rehearsal commitments and sign a permission form.)
    • Note: 12 to 15yr olds can join us for Sunday afternoon-only rehearsals on Sunday 17th September. 
  • Workshop: Under 12 years old - Sunday 17th September at 4.00PM.
    • Junior Youth Cast (6-11yrs) and any under-16s who want Sunday-afternoon-only panto rehearsals should come along!
    • This isn't an 'audition' - we workshop scenes and roles and discuss in small groups or pairs what role every junior actor wants to do. Everyone who turns up and wants to be in the panto is guaranteed to be in it! This workshop may overrun slightly depending on numbers.
    • Note: Parents or guardians, please come to the parent information session at 4pm for 15 minutes. There will be permission forms to complete there. These roles do not have evening rehearsals.
2022 - Treasure Island​ 
​Cast and crew information
  • ​​Link to character list: Google Doc (subject to change)
  • Link to storyline precis: Google Doc
  • Link to important info and dates: Google Doc (some dates TBC)
2021 - Wizard of Oz
Find information about the rehearsals and production here.

2019 - A Christmas Carol
Dickens’ Christmas classic gets the Crowborough panto treatment, as the Crowborough Players return for their eighth year at the Community Centre. Of course, the heart-warming story of human redemption is there, but it’s also a fun-filled treat for all ages, packed with laughs, songs and panto magic.
Production
Friday 13th December - evening
Saturday 14th December - afternoon & evening
Sunday 15th December - afternoon
Important documents
* See Key dates information (Gdoc)
* See Character list (Gdoc)
* See Crew roles (Gdoc)
* See Audition info (Gdoc)
2018 - Cinderella
Production
Saturday 15th December - 2.00pm & 6.00pm
Sunday 16th  December - 11.00am & 3.00pm

* See: Rehearsals, crew meets and key date information (GDoc)
* See: Character list (GDoc)
* See: Crew roles (GDoc)

2017 - Jack and the Beanstalk

The cast list for 2017's Jack and the Beanstalk:
Download the cast list here:
jack_and_the_beanstalk__casting_.pdf
File Size: 43 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Important information for Jack and the Beanstalk 2017 - shared at auditions:
important_information.pdf
File Size: 375 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2017 - Important documents

Rehearsal documents - Rehearsals are underway!
2017 Rehearsal calls - Google doc
2017 Cast by scene (and song) - Google doc
Audition documents
Plot precis - Google docs version here
jack_and_the_beanstalk_plot_precis.pdf
File Size: 43 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Character notes - Google docs version here
panto_2017_-_character_notes.pdf
File Size: 1378 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File