Leaders at Faust: An Interview with the Sleeping Beauty Panto Cast

During this period we wanted to share the creative endeavours of our Faust Leaders, Members and others in our community. 

In this feature, we interviewed Faust Leaders Janet Walker, Miguel Urmeneta, Samantha Brooks and Annabelle Lyn regarding their recent experience from performing at Hong Kong Players' annual Christmas pantomime of Sleeping Beauty, back in December 2019.

Miguel Urmeneta during a performance of Sleeping Beauty the Panto in December 2019

How did you hear about the annual pantomime and how did you get involved
MIGUEL: I have friends who have been involved with Panto for many years, so it was always something that I was aware of. I was actually told by Kathy Mak that Hong Kong Players were in need of a replacement Prince for this year's panto. She's been involved both on and off-stage with Panto for quite a while, returning to last year's panto as choreographer once again and being friends with me already, she was the one to reach out.

Janet Walker and Sam Brooks posing backstage

SAM: I’ve been going to watch the panto ever since I was a kid, and as this may be my last year in Hong Kong I thought I might as well try out! I’ve been involved in other HK theatre projects over the last couple of years so I’m always on the lookout for new auditions, so when my mum told me about panto auditions I was really interested.

ANNABELLE: I have wanted to join the Panto since back in 2017. I had heard about it through my theatre friends from other productions, but my schedule never matched. And in 2019, I decided to challenge myself and audition for the panto

JANET: I grew up watching and appearing in local panto but I’m not sure how I first heard about the Hong Kong one,  as we’ve been going to see it for maybe 12-13 years and they always look like they were having so much fun. I wanted to get involved so for a couple of years I helped backstage - and I then auditioned a couple of times and this year was lucky enough to get in and had an amazing time!

What is it about being part of a production that really speaks to you, that makes it worthwhile? Because it’s a lot of hours, hard work, line learning... what makes it worth it?
MIGUEL: One of the first things that comes to mind is the overwhelming sense of family and unity. The show really requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but the memories you end up creating make it worth it. Everyone supports each other so much and holds each other up. It's humbling because you're made aware of how important a piece you are in this big, intricate puzzle but also just how much of a team effort it is, onstage and backstage. When you have a good show, you feel this immense sense of pride but you also know you couldn't have achieved it without the wonderful cast and crew you're working with.

Plus, it's energizing! Personally, there's just this kick I get out of performing and acting. It's like nothing else. A fulfilling and refreshing form of escape.

JANET: Yes it is the “all in it together”, “teamwork makes the dream work” feeling, especially if you have a good group and everybody (or almost everybody) are mates.

The panto was such a fantastic team on stage and backstage and just a joy to work with, and then when you actually get there, especially this year going through the protests and everything, it was a very stressful process (and some of us were in hospital at some point!!). But it all came together, it was truly all right on the night. When you’ve been through all that and you get an appreciative audience it really is fantastic and it’s absolutely worthwhile.

What was the most difficult part of doing the show and how did you overcome the challenge?
SAM: For me the most difficult part of the show was dealing with the exhaustion of putting on 11 shows in two weeks. We had so many rehearsals and it was very physically draining, as panto and commedia dell’arte theatre requires a lot of energy and dedication to delivering a strong, exuberant physical performance. As the weeks went on we all got more and more tired, as we had to maintain the same level of energy throughout. However once we got on stage each night it was like a reset button and we were just reminded of how fun it is to do.

Doing a comedic show can be difficult without a crowd. How do you know if the jokes and your performance was working before your first show in front of an audience
SAM: To be honest, we really didn’t know if the jokes would land. We knew our fellow cast and crew members enjoyed them and that they worked to a certain extent but it wasn’t until the first show that we really found out if they worked. We just had to deliver each line with confidence and carry on even if the jokes didn’t land. In panto you need to be on the ball and ready for the unexpected.

ANNABELLE: It's all a gamble for me, I rely on the choreographer and the director's choice and go with it. Even though as an ensemble member, there are a lot of moments where we are just there to fill the scene, so to make a more animated comedic show, we communicate with one another and say what we want to do. 

Annabelle Lyn during a rehearsal for Sleeping Beauty the Panto

MIGUEL: Well, to some degree, you DO have a crowd! Especially with a cast as big as this, ensemble included, you often still have people in the rehearsal room who will laugh at and react to moments during a scene. Obviously, everyone’s trying to focus and stay in character but sometimes it can’t be helped and that’s a good sign because it assures you that a moment is hilarious! 

That being said, I personally had a moment in a scene that would kill people every time it happened in rehearsal, but once we were in the swing of shows, it didn’t have the impact I was expecting. So it shows that you really never know. A lot of it is faith in your director and their vision. They’ve done the work to try and write scenes to be funny in their own way and you have to play it out the way they want and trust that it will land. If it doesn’t, that’s also okay, because you really can’t force comedy. It’s a fickle thing.

Pantos can also be unpredictable because of audience interaction. What unusual things have happened during the show run?
JANET: Yes! Especially kids and the occasional adult yelling out random stuff. This is where you need a snappy Dame! Lucas, Terry, Bobby and Josh are all amazing at firing back.

ANNABELLE: There was a heavy heckler during one show, he was yelling things at the wrong time and it threw a few actors off.

MIGUEL: Oh man, Panto was definitely the most volatile and ridiculous experience on stage I’ve ever had! I was certainly thrown into the deep end, because I’d heard lots of things about what it can be like but I’d never even watched a Panto myself before! So I was having to brace myself every night for not just what mistakes or moments we might have but what the audience might throw at us as well. One thing I definitely didn’t expect was getting booed, not for my performance, but because the character would get booed! 

What will you take away from the experience?
SAM: Not to sound cliche, but a whole family! Everyone in the cast and crew is amazing and I know I will be friends with them for years to come. 

ANNABELLE: Everything!

MIGUEL: Certainly a newfound love and appreciation for Panto, that’s for sure! It was certainly a fun experience and I would be open to doing it again. I’m also walking away from the experience with more confidence in my own abilities. This challenged me in new ways and I learned a lot about what I’m capable of.

What advice would you give to your Faust students about being part of a show and performing?
SAM: Always give it your all. Put every single ounce of energy you have into your performance. Don’t be afraid to make bold choices when it comes to your characterisation and your delivery. It is always good to bring ideas to the rehearsal room - a good director will help you to shape those ideas or tell you to bring it down or change it up. Something that I’ve learnt through both Faust and Panto is that you and your cast mates will always benefit from coming in to rehearsals ready to learn and adapt. Your way is not the only way, so just bring everything you have and be ready to develop and improve from learning from others.

ANNABELLE: You are important, each and every one of you. Everyone in the cast has a part to do in the show.

JANET: Yes - we are all pieces of one big puzzle and each piece is equally important.

MIGUEL: You’ve got to have faith in yourself and your talents, because the audience can sense it if you not confident when performing. Take every opportunity to learn. There’s always room for improvement and know that you’ll come out the other side of this experience even better than you were before.