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Original poster

How do you get your child to go on stage at the Panto?

16 replies

kelevsmum · 24/12/2013 20:25

Does anyone know? We've been going to see the panto every Christmas since the big one was 3, and now she's 7 she really wants to be one of the kids they invite on stage at the end.

How do I make it happen? Who do I speak to?
Thanks!

OP posts:
reup · 24/12/2013 20:27

Pretend its her birthday?

NaturalBaby · 24/12/2013 20:29

We went to a small theatre, Ds was wearing red trousers so I held him up and he caught the eye of the actor on stage. Wear something to make her stand out and maybe hold her up a bit? (ds is only 4 so I lifted him up a bit)

Original poster
kelevsmum · 24/12/2013 21:02

Thanks for your replies, but maybe I haven't explained myself very well.

In all the pantos we've been to (and we've been to a number, in theatres large and small), at the end of the show, when the actors need time to change into their final costumes (normally before the wedding at the end), the "funny one" - be it Muddles or Buttons or whomever - comes on stage and calls three (always 3 for some reason) children onto the stage, asks them their name, what part of the show they liked best, makes fun of them (nicely) a bit then gives them chocolates and off they come.

I assume you put your name down somewhere before the show and they choose the kids to go up. I was just wondering if anyone has done it and if you know how to go about it - talk to the ushers, the ticket staff?

Thanks again!

OP posts:
Zipitydooda · 24/12/2013 22:27

Where we go, they give out golden tickets during the interval and check that those children want to go on stage. I think they choose children from various sections of the theatre. We usually sit in the same seats (near the back) and my son has been asked three times! I'd check with the theatre you're going to in advance.

holidaysarenice · 24/12/2013 22:30

My brother got a friends child on stage, as he knew and actor in the panto. Sorry that doesn't help but I assume if it wasn't like that there would be so many kids wanting on the stage.

madrose · 24/12/2013 22:31

Last year my DD (7) wore a tiara and we were sat in the stalls. We got there quite early and she was asked if she wanted to go up onto the stage. They wanted her to wear her tiara on stage, but she refused to wear it and went up without it. wear something that stands out, it involved parent humiliation.

EvilTwins · 24/12/2013 22:39

When I took a group of kids from school, I emailed the group bookings person to let them know that one of the kids was having a birthday, so they gave her a shout out. I assume that getting kids on stage at that theatre would be done in the same way - when I took my own kids last weekend, they collected the children who were going on stage just before that scene, so they'd obviously already decided. When I was a child I remember it being a case of the first 10 (or whatever) kids who could get to the stage made it on- one year every child on there was from our Brownie pack (I was one of them!) because we were sitting at the front. I expect that rush to the front would have H&S implications these days, not to mention the upset PFBs who didn't quite get there on time...

NaturalBaby · 25/12/2013 10:13

It was a random choice in our case - we didn't do anything to get ds on stage, he just stood out.

ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh · 25/12/2013 10:18

It depends on the panto

Dd was a dancer in our local panto a few years ago & we managed to get quite a few family kids on stage by knowing exactly where in the show it happened & getting them in the right position at the right time & knowing who the stage manager was.

Same panto a school friend was picked because he was sitting near the front & caught the actors eye. Another time I saw the stage manager going up to someone who had been pre selected.

We went to Manchester last week & they seemed to be doing the golden ticket in the programme thing.

Iheartcustardcreams · 25/12/2013 10:26

We went on Sunday and if u bought a programme your child's name went into a draw and 4 were picked.

Original poster
kelevsmum · 25/12/2013 10:30

Thanks for all the replies!
I wonder if the theatre we go to doesn't do the "buy the programme and we'll select your child" thing, as we never buy a programme and we've never been selected!

I'll try and ring them tomorrow (I don't suppose there'll be anyone in on Christmas day...) and see if I can ask someone about it.

Merry Christmas!

OP posts:
sooperdooper · 25/12/2013 10:34

My friends little boy got asked by the usher as we walked in, I think it's complete luck, they only have a few kids go up and they pick at random

Makingchanges · 25/12/2013 10:37

We got asked by the usher. We were in the stalls and near the exit he was standing at. DD is always getting picked, think its just luck though.

moldingsunbeams · 25/12/2013 10:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Theimpossiblegirl · 25/12/2013 10:55

My girls have been picked several times each- we were lucky. Once we were approached in the bar before the show, other times in our seats (stalls, near to the front but not top price seats). This year there were Golden Tickets in the programs for 4 children to go up.

The DDs wouldn't go up now if I paid them though.

Feenie · 25/12/2013 11:00

You could try my auntie's method - get a box near the stage, throw your kids/nieces over the barrier straight on then argue with the usher who already has kids chosen (and now crying) on the stairs?

Soooooo embarrassing

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