Recruiting new members is one of those jobs that never quite finishes. Here's how I've approached it over the years, on stage and off.

Taking on your first pantomime? We walk through choosing a script, casting the roles that carry the comedy, and what makes panto different from any other theatre you've directed.

A pantomime that overruns loses its audience before the final bow. We look at pace, staging and the small habits that keep a show moving, not just what to cut.

Not every pantomime script is funny in the same way. We look at what actually makes an audience laugh for two hours, from catchphrases to comic duos to a villain who can't help being petty.

A pantomime script doesn't have to stay exactly as written. We look at the local references, flexible casting and seasonal tweaks built into every one of our scripts, and how to use them well.

Nick shares how a good panto joke actually gets put together, from wordplay and physical comedy to the moments the audience becomes part of the joke, with real examples from his own scripts.

Booked your script? Here's exactly what your Performance Licence allows, and doesn't, when it comes to promoting your show.

Auditions are where a pantomime takes shape. This guide contains my top tips for what works, what to watch for, and how to get the best out of the whole process.

Not all large cast scripts are the same. Some need the numbers to work properly; others scale up naturally. Here's a quick guide to our large cast scripts.

Getting people through the door is half the job. Here's what I've learned over the years about panto production marketing.

The pantomime villain is often one of the best roles in the show. Here's what I think makes a brilliant baddie.

Every pantomime uses the same handful of character types, and each one has a specific job to do in the story and in the room. Here is a proper look at all of them.

Volunteered to direct your first pantomime and not entirely sure where to start? This guide covers everything from getting started to opening night.

Practical guide to pantomime set design and costumes for amateur theatre. You don't need a big budget, you need the right choices at the right moments.

Songs can make or break a panto. Here's my thinking on how to pick the right numbers, and how to get the most from my Panto Song Suggestions page.

A well-timed sound effect is the difference between a killer laugh and a scene stopped stone dead. Here are my top tips on SFX.

A pantomime audience will boo, cheer and shout back at you whether you have planned for it or not. Here is how to work with them rather than against them.

You've got a finite number of rehearsals, and they'll go one of two ways. Here's what I've learned about rehearsing pantomime properly.

These panto scripts sit in our Medium Cast range and have been written with 10 to 13 principal roles.

Pantomime comedy is a specific craft, and the instinct to "play funny" is often the thing that gets in the way of it. Here's what I've found actually works.