Not every character under the Big Top comes from the fairytale. Here’s the full casting requirements, from Dame Barnum to the Bears.

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.

From a Dame who used to be an old woodcarver to the fairy siblings whose feud drives the whole plot, here's every Pinocchio character in our script.

Robin Hood's cast runs deep: an arrogant hero, a tax-mad Sheriff, four Outlaws named John, and a Dame who moonlights as a Girl Guide leader.

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.

Who's who in Slumberland? From an overprotective King to a villain we actually redeem, our Sleeping Beauty pantomime script has a cast full of surprises worth casting well.

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.

Meet the whole cast behind our Dick Whittington pantomime script, from Sarah's restaurant to King Rat's sewers, and what each role brings to the stage.

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.

Every named character in our Peter Pan script, from Dame Smee's crew to the four Lost Boys and a hand-hungry Crocodile.

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

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

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.

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

Our Alice in Wonderland script has a perennially late rabbit, a beheading obsessed baddie, and a Cheshire Cat who always speaks in questionably rhyming verse.

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.

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.

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