It's Panto Mania!

Theres nothing quite like a celeb-filledpanto tobring the family together! ChristinaQuainemeets the women who make it happen

- Christina Quaine

THE WRITER

SUSIE MCKENNA, 56, is the writer and director of Aladdin at London’s Hackney Empire. She lives in London with her wife, actor Sharon D Clarke.

The trick to writing a good panto? Engage the children first, then layer the script to make sure the adults enjoy it too – everyone loves an innuendo! I’ll put in a few gags that are a bit political, before moving on quickly to something for the children – for instance, this year we have a panda character, which kids will love. The trick is not to hang around too long on any one thing.

This is my 20th year at the helm of Hackney Empire’s panto, so the pressure is on! Believe me, it certainly doesn’t get any easier. I have a brilliant team but the buck stops with me. I have to keep it fresh and creative, on a tight budget. We have some brilliant creatures in Aladdin. There’s a flying dragon, which is a seven-person puppet on a massive dolly crane, plus the most amazing goddess monkey who part-narrates the show.

I started writing the script as soon as last year’s panto finished. It’s the best time to get cracking because I’m in panto mood. My “I started writing Aladdin as soon as last year’s panto finished”mum has a place near Estepona in southern Spain, so I go there in February to start storyboarding. By April, I’m making budgeting decisions and talking with the panto designer.