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.

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.

Who’s who in our Cinderella script? Meet Buttons, the Ugly Sisters, and the fearsome Baroness Hardup.

Who's who in our Jack and the Beanstalk panto? Meet Dame Trot, Simon and two Blunderbore baddies; the Giant and his mum!

Who's who in our Aladdin? From Widow Twankey's laundrette to Abanazar's lair, we introduce every principal character so you know exactly who you're casting.

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.

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.

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.