Volunteered to direct your first pantomime and not entirely sure where to start? You're not alone. This guide covers the decisions that matter most, from choosing the right script to running your first rehearsal, and gives you a clear path through the process.

Songs can make or break a pantomime. Choose them well and they lift every scene they're in; choose them badly and they slow the show down. Here's my thinking on how to pick the right numbers, and what the Panto Songs page is there to help you with.

A well-timed sound effect can get a bigger laugh than a great line. Terrible sound timing can kill a scene stone dead. Here's what I've found works for pantomime sound and music, from villain stings to the live band advantage and briefing your sound operator.