Tin Tub Theatre take their Christmas panto online

Tin Tub Theatre take their Christmas panto online

Written by Ruby Moir

October 21, 2020

Lewis Baird is the founder, editor, and reviewer for Theatre Scotland, a theatre news and review website run by students and young professionals.

As theatres remain closed all across Scotland venues big and small are having to come up with creative solutions to put on productions. Queen Margaret University’s drama society, Tin Tub Theatre, have done just that, moving their performance online.

“Originally, our thought was coming somewhere to film so we would work in the same you would for film,” said co-director Rebecca Donati. The plan was to film on campus while following social distancing rules, but the latest wave of travel restrictions shut those plans down.

While Musselburgh is in tier two, the majority of the Tin Tub cast live in Edinburgh, a tier three zone. “There was no viable way we would get that filmed properly [in a way] that would represent us as a company,” said society president Marcus Lundie.

The production instead changed to a series of short skits edited into one video. Donati explained: “Instead of trying to emulate something like panto we though we would create scenes around the festive season, using the hard work the cast has put in.”

The difference between directing for stage versus film can be difficult though. “Usually with the actors in panto you let them experiement and go off of instinct,” she continued, “so it’s been a challenge for us to flip that on its head and think ahead of time, looking at camera shots, camera angles, and that sort of thing.”

Tin Tub Theatre are switching their Christmas pantomime to a series of online skits

The society also missed out on performing their original “Winfred Wellman’s Wellness” over the summer but COVID-19 put a stop to that too. “We were quite far into the production,” said Lundie. “It was gutting when we’d gotten so far, put in so much work, and the full country just went into lockdown.”

Lead actress Jessie Lee was due to make her debut in the summer play, with the Christmas pantomime being her second. “It was really sad” to see both productions cancelled, she said. “It feels really draining to be told that plan after plan is cancelled.”

“Acting is what gives us our kicks,” said Lundie, “so having that one thing that we cherish so dearly taken away is horrible.” That being said, the trio believe their online adaption will be succesful.

Rehearsels have also moved online, hosted online via weekyl Zoom sessions. “It’s different,” Donati said. “It feels a bit alien but it’s been so much fun; it’s just been nice sharing the thing you all love together.”

There are downsides of course. Lee said: “The main thing you lose is the energy that you get when you’re in a room with everyone else. You hype yourself up with other people so it’s difficult to recreate that over Zoom.”

Tin Tub has also taken the extra time over lockdown to do charity work, partnering with Edinburgh-based homeless charity Cyrenions. Lundie explained: “We’re doing a lot of charity work this semsester. Currently any money we’re hoping to get from any sort of production, we’re hoping to donate to Cyrenions. It’s been a hell of a year and any way we can give back I think would be amazing to do so.”

Tin Tub Theatre’s online production of “The Snow Must Go On” is due to release this Christmas.

Image Credit: Tin Tub Theatre Facebook

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