BRADFORD 2025: Pinocchio panto fun is serious business - oh yes it is!

Laughter, boos, cheers, and a cascade of colourful characters - it may seem like pure, carefree comedy.

But no lie... there are lots of strings attached to making new panto Pinocchio a spectacular six week success at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre, now running to January 19 - get tickets at https://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk.

As audiences get ready to shout, ‘he’s behind you!’, watching Pinocchio’s nose grow with every fib, Graham Walker was given exclusive behind the scenes access to see just what it takes to create the laugh-out-loud fun and magic we all take for granted.

It has been more than a year in the making, involving over 70 dedicated staff working tirelessly behind the scenes. From cleaners to special effects wizards, every detail is finely tuned with military precision, ensuring the timing of each joke and every jaw-dropping moment is spot on.

Leading the charge once again is the panto legend himself, Billy Pearce, back for his 24th season at the Alhambra. This time, he takes on the role of Geppetto, the toymaker who creates Pinocchio, the puppet who desperately wants to become a real boy.

The antics of nose-growing, lie-detecting, and audience interaction are brought to life as a brand new panto with a dazzling cast that includes Chris Gascoyne, best known as Coronation Street’s Peter Barlow, playing the evil Stromboli (cue boos and hisses), and Courtney Act, the Australian drag superstar, as the enchanting Blue Faerie.

While the characters and costumes steal the show, panto’s true essence lies not only in what we see, but in the dedication we don’t see. Behind every choreographed dance, special effect, every outrageous gag and each carefully delivered line, there’s a lot of sweat, planning, and passion.

Stage manager Richard Herrick, from Wakefield, is proud the panto will help to launch Bradford UK City Of Culture 2025. said: "If my nose grew with every white lie told about how hard it was to put on a panto, I don't think it'd be that long, because I'm pretty truthful about how hard a job it is.

"Panto is fun, but it's a serious business as well, with all the rehearsals we have to do to make it look fun and like it is  spontaneous. Some of it is, but a lot  goes into making it look like that.

"We have stage managers, wardrobe staff, musicians, lighting and sound people. We're up to about 30 people and that's before we get to the front of house team, the bar staff, the cleaners, the box office, sewing, merchandise, people welcoming people into the theater. There's probably nearly 70, people working in the theatre on every show."

Katherine Huddleston, Deputy Stage Manager, works in the wings, monitoring three screens and communicating via headset to ensure everything runs like clockwork - whether it's coordinating pyrotechnics, scene transitions, or even making sure the actors are in the right place.

 “There’s so much going on, you really have to focus,” Katherine said. “I guess you could say it’s the brains of the operation!”

Then there’s Dan Higgins, a technician from Wakefield who, amongst other things, operates the remote-controlled mechanism that makes Pinocchio’s nose grow on cue. “We use some amazing new technology,” Dan says, “but there are also some classic techniques that have been part of panto for decades.”

The backstage crew even showed me how it all works—but, of course, I can’t reveal the secrets, because we wouldn’t want to spoil the magic!

Every zany moment on stage, whether it's Billy Pearce’s clothes vanishing in thin air or his hat catching fire, is carefully choreographed. A first half show-stopper sees him fly an aeroplane over the audience, spinning upside down as a blaze of lights hide the secret behind his incredible routine.

Off-the-cuff gags take hours of rehearsal to get just right. The sheer unpredictability of live theatre means that anything can happen - and often does, when Billy Pearce is around. One routine has him holding a robot dog, spinning around with it under his am, only for it to “relieve itself” on front-row audience members, which sends young panto fans wild. It’s all part of the plan. What was unexpected was when he also soaked sign language interpreter Keren Seabrook at the side of te stage. The crowd loved it so much she has requested it become a permanent part of the show.

True panto pro Billy is serious about his craft but laughs: “I’ve been doing this for 24 years at the Alhambra, Why do I keep coming back? Money!

“Seriously, it’s because I love this theatre, and everyone here works so hard to make me look good. It’s like a family, and I feel part of it.”

Chris Gascoyne brings his trademark intensity to the role of Stromboli, drawing on Corrie bad boy Richard Hillman. “Panto is one of the hardest forms of theatre,” he admits.

“In TV, you get multiple takes, but here, you’ve got one shot to get it right. When you’ve got 1,400 people watching you, it’s both exhilarating and terrifying. But when the audience is with you, that energy gives you such a boost.

"Am I going to go back to Corrie? I really miss all my mates and I had a fantastic time. But the workload is difficult. I did eight years full on. So I got tired and I wanted to do some other stuff. But you can't ever say no."

Courtney Act, the alter-ego of Shane Jenek, from Australia, plays the Blue Faerie and said; 'I think I was born to play the part. It's not too far a departure from who I am.

"Pantos have a tradition of men being women and women being men, so getting invited to do this role felt quite natural.

“It's easy bringing panto and drag together. I feel like they might be cousins, maybe even siblings."

Majestically towering over the city centre, this legendary venue, with its 1,400 red velvet-clad seats, sweeping balconies, gilded arches and glittering chandeliers, is the symbol of Bradford’s rich cultural heritage and its ambitious future.

A masterpiece of Edwardian grandeur, the grand old dame of theatre is more a living, breathing institution that has anchored the city’s artistic soul through 110 years of history, laughter, and tears. It is the jewel in Bradford’s cultural crown.

Now the city’s flagship entertainment venue has a a new starring role as the poster-girl to help make the city a must-visit destination in 2025.

The Alhambra Theater is leading the cultural charge to attract audiences no just locally and regionally, but from around the country and beyond with a blockbuster year of shows - full details and tickets here.

Highlights in 2025 include three huge West End touring productions - Hamilton, Mary Poppins and Matilda - plus a diverse line-up of other top shows, from Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and Midnight Bell, to South Korean’s Eun-Me Ahn Company - Dragons.

The Alhambra, built for just £20,000, transforming wasteland into a showbiz palace, the Alhambra was created by theatrical impresario Francis Laidler, the so-called King of Pantomime, who also gave us the modern day panto we know today - oh yes he did.

He introduced the the Sunbeams, a juvenile troupe, giving local youngsters the chance to take part, as they are today.

For more information about the events for Bradford 2025 and to buy tickets visit: https://bradford2025.co.uk/whats-on/