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Samaritans' Pantomime 2004

December 2004 witnessed the first ever Pantomime to be written and performed by serving volunteers from Chesterfield Samaritans.

The concept for staging a pantomime developed during a normal Samaritan shift. The two volunteers on duty were throwing ideas around, thinking of ways to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Samaritan movement. They also wanted to do something fun and something to show the public that the stereotypical vision of a Samaritan wasn't an over 60, "twin-set and pearls", middle class female, but that we were from all walks of life, and jobs, and a wide age group, who enjoyed life and having fun.

We also wanted to raise much needed funds for the Branch, and use it as recruitment/reaching out opportunity, a tall order it was decided.

One of the volunteers on duty that day suggested putting on a panto, and was amazed to hear that her colleague had written a pantomime script a few years earlier.

During the coming weeks the script was honed, bits' were re-written, and a working title of "Emberella" given, a work in progress became a finished article.

The idea grew, the read-through held, the roles were cast, and rehearsals were soon upon us.

It was hard getting everyone together for rehearsals, and soon it was late summer, drifting into autumn, and the weeks were passing by ever faster. Costumes were sewn, props were sought, singing lessons were undertaken, and the mumbling of lines getting more and more frantic. It must be noted that all the volunteers taking part also honoured their Samaritan commitment 100%, which shows the dedication of those involved.

Not only was the script written by a serving volunteer, but the entire cast was made up of volunteers, almost entirely virgin thespians. The chorus was made up of children of Samaritan volunteers, and as tradition has it they proved to be the show stealers.

It wouldn't have been possible to stage the panto without the volunteers who helped with the set design, the painting of the scenery, and all the other jobs that were done front and back of house.

Soon December arrived, the dress rehearsal was performed and all felt really deflated as it was terrible. No-one knew their lines, the cast stood in the wrong paces, entrances and exits from stage were hopeless, what were we going to do?

The stage manager "borrowed" from Hasland Theatre, where the production was to take place assured everyone that dress rehearsals are always bad, it was a "good" omen. I am not sure how many of us believed this, and most felt that sleep would evade them in the coming nights.

And so came the opening night, and to everyone's amazement it went well, and if the laughter was anything to go by, it was a real success. This was followed by equally successful nights, which were played to full houses.

Everyone connected with the panto were on a natural high but emotionally drained after the last night, but we all concurred that we would do it again.

So did we achieve what we set out to , well we raised over £1,600 for the Branch, we think we helped dispel the image of the stereotypical Samaritan volunteer, and we hope that it has a positive effect on recruitment.

Although acting in a pantomime is not a pre-requisite of being a volunteer and definitely not compulsory.

What do I remember the most about "Emberella"? I think it would be the laughter, the camaraderie and the sheer fun of being a part of a team of really fantastic people.

The Prompt (who was useless, due to laughing too much)