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.

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.

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.

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.