Just Imagine

There are not many people who know more about pantomime than Simon Sladen and this week Martin chats to the V&A’s Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Performance and creator of Panto Day about the history of the genre and just what it is about panto that he loves so much! 

Despite being told “people like us don’t do that” when she said she wanted a career in theatre, Janice Dunn has gone on to be a hugely successful director and writer and she joins Martin to talk about how a working-class girl from Liverpool fell in love with theatre and just what the industry means to her.

This week Martin is joined by lighting designer Jamie Corbidge. With his first word ever being ‘lights’ it is not surprising he has gone on to have a hugely successful career which has covered everything from pantomime to working at Knebworth and the Millennium Dome. 

Iain Lauchlan, co-creator of The Tweenies, panto dame extraordinaire and key figure in the history of Imagine Theatre joins us to talk about his television career, his love of panto and how the pandemic has led to him undertaking some exciting new projects. 

Chief Executive Officer of Eden Court, James Mackenzie Blackman, joins us to discuss his life-long dream of working in the theatre and helping to provide opportunities for young people, the current challenges facing the industry and how Eden Court became a huge part of the Highland’s humanitarian response during the pandemic.

She stole the hearts of millions on The X Factor but could just have easily ended up a professional footballer. Join us to learn more about Sam’s fascinating life and career as well as her love of all things panto.  

Martin talks to renowned set and costume designer Mark Walters about his unusual route into theatre design, those that have inspired him, how the creative process works and some of his favourite and most challenging designs. 

On the podcast this week is West End star and choreographer Jane McMurtrie. She talks about how she knew from an early age she wanted to be a performer, how she came to star in the West End, what it’s like being married to a fellow performer and a strange mermaid mishap!  

This week Martin talks to actor, writer and director Eric Potts about his long career in showbusiness including how he started out in the industry and the fellow performers that inspire him.   

Join us as we talk to Steve Boden, Managing Director of Imagine Theatre, about his road to becoming one of the country’s top pantomime producers, his love of theatre, how the company has coped during the pandemic and some of his most memorable industry moments.  

Find out more about Just Imagine, the new podcast from Imagine Theatre, one of the world's biggest pantomime producers. Join us as we go behind the scenes and 'Just Imagine' what it would be like to work in the world of theatre and pantomime...