MORE ABOUT BACK END

Founded in 1998, the aim of the company is to bring a funky new style of themed and musically diverse panto to new audiences in London. We try to raise ever larger sums of money for charity with each production - and have a great time while we're at it! Founders Gavin MacKay and Rupert Bean joined forces two years after graduation, having previously been scions of the pantomimes of St Andrews (run by the Kate Kennedy Club) where they were at university. They missed this tradition so much they started their own charity group, cunningly known as Back End Productions after that most sought after role in the panto - the fragrant end of the horse. Gavin and Rupert now oversee each production, with the fantastic help of the third member of committee, their old university friend Jake McQuitty.

The cast and crew comprises over one hundred volunteers – all involved in one or more aspect of each production, be it acting, directing, sound, lights, marketing, set design, props, back stage, front of house, manning the bar (very important that one!). You name it, there are jobs to do. They are twenty (and now thirty)-something South West London professional types with a core of professional or semi-professional theatre, events, marketing and production people. Audiences come to each panto mostly by reputation as Back End has developed a 'cult' status amongst its peer group, and the runs repeatedly sell-out every year.

Here’s a list of all our pantos to date -

1998 - Dick Whittington: Back End Productions first London show with a Wild West theme, complete with cowboys and Indians!

1999 – Snow White and the Seven Droids: this show saw the familiar tale of Snow White given a sci-fi twist

2000 – Cinderella Under The Sea: an aquatic adventure for the scullery girl who gets a magical makeover; we were joined in this sodden tale by cameo appearances by Judith Chalmers and Eddie the Eagle Edwards!

2001 – Sleeping Beauty’s Desert Adventure: this panto was performed at the Riverside Studios, the first time we ventured outside our usual haunt of the Hurlingham & Chelsea School; it was set in the desert…as the title suggests! Cameos from Bear Grylls, Carol Harrison, Kinvara Balgour, Simon Weston and Patsy Palmer livened up proceedings

2002 – Babes in the Hood: back at the school, this was Back End’s homage to the gangster films of the 40s and 50s! We were joined in this enterprise by Orinoco the Womble and the Milky Bar Kid!

2003 – Jack and the Bondstalk: James Bond meets the Giant, in a nutshell, with cameos from Neil and Christine Hamilton and a real life Bond girl…Maryam D’Abo!

2004 – Aladdin on the Jolly Roger: a piratical adventure, complete with a parrot (oh yes) and buried treasure…with a variety of enormous chests on show! Cameos from Richard Dunwoody, Christopher Cazenove and Shane Connor helped us along

2005 – Puss ‘n’ Bats: moved again from the school, this Transylvanian take on the traditional Puss in Boots story took place at the Shepherds Bush Pavilion. We were joined by Du’ane Ledajo, Graeme Swann, Sally Farmiloe and Dai Llewelyn this year

2006 – Mother Goose – Up The Amazon: a jungle themed romp in our new regular venue of the Hammersmith Town Hall!

Read the biographies of some of the main people in the most recent shows.