Lunchbox Panto at the Bridewell
Panto at the Bridewell has become a firm favourite in the calendar, around 650 people see it every year, but to keep it going we need financial support. In order to persuade you (maybe?) here is why Panto at the Bridewell needs to continue...
Audience Feedback from 'Jack & his Beanstalk', Panto 2016
Audience Feedback from 'Whittington', Panto 2015
Audience Feedback from 'Tinderella', Panto 2014
Our Supported Charities...
Our Supported charities thus far...
In 2013 we raised £500.00 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
In 2014 we raised £1120.00 that was split between the Rainbow Trust and Survivors UK.
In 2015 we raised £1035.00 that was split between Survivors UK and Arts Emergency.
In 2016 we raised £800.00 that was split between Arts Emergency and us, the company, in the quest to make the work as sustainable for us as it is accessible for the audience.
What the Charities say:
'JED Productions has chosen to support us in the past, to date they have raised nearly £1000 for us which has helped us do our work.
As they are an arts organisation who persevere in making it sustainable for the people involved they mirror many of our own values.
It would be great to see the company grow and keep going as the more prolific they are, the more organisations like ours will benefit from what they do.'
Neil Griffiths, Arts Emergency
What our Industry Partners have to say...
"Jezza and I have worked together to develop some of his pantomime scripts. Panto is a very difficult form to master with any integrity and I can confidently say that Jezza’s understanding of narrative clarity, his inventive interpretations of traditional stories, his wit and bang up to date humour have developed considerably over the time he has been writing. Jezza has that great ability to make the comedy feel natural to the characters and the moment so that he never sacrifices narrative and always keeps the audience in mind and on side. A great panto writer is a rare thing and Jezza is very much on his way to becoming a one-person institution at Bridewell and hopefully beyond."
Joel Horwood, Associate Artist at the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre.
"In August 2017 I met Jezza Donovan at a Raising Our Voices playwriting workshop I led, curated by Amie Taylor. The workshop was designed for people who identify as LBTQ+, often underrepresented within theatre and other creative industries. Jezza’s use of poetic language and visual metaphor within the workshop was inspiring to see after just a few short exercises and I immediately was intrigued to see/read more of their work. Jezza went on to apply for our 9 month Writers’ Lab programme and our panel voted unanimously to offer them a place. This year we received 550 applications for 80 places, so despite being heavily over-subscribed we wanted to give Jezza a place due to their inspired application and writing flair. I’m looking forward to working with Jezza over the next year and being their dramaturg over three drafts of a new piece of theatre."
Jules Haworth, Education Producer, SOHO Theatre.
"I think the fact that we continue to ask JED Productions back, when there are loads of other groups that would snap this slot up says it all really!
From the get go in 2012 (with the Comedy Sketch Show) what we have liked about working with them is theirfull commitment to the show across the whole remit; marketing, publicity, effort on stage, interaction with the audience, before and after the show.
In truth our Lunchbox programme is not about the monies for the Foundation per say, although we strive to cover our costs, it’s more about the 2 other things:
1) Giving companies a chance to show their talents, in Central London, by way of offering the theatre for free (box office split) in order to remove one cost burden “theatre hire” with the intent going some way to help professional actors receive proper remuneration for their skills and efforts
2) Our Charitable remit to the local workforce in education, entertainment and general welfare, to which JED Productions gives in bounds.
The JED Productions team have an infectious bubbly enthusiasm! They send a lot of people away full of the joys of the season and I am sure really help people get in the Christmas swing! Over the years this has led to our patrons actively asking what show they’re doing next year, and we get many more group bookings each year as those that see it one year invite other colleagues to attend the following year! It’s fast becoming a local institution."
Mikey Palmer, Theatre Manager at the Bridewell Theatre, part of the St. Brides Foundation.
Flyering Ludgate Circus during the run
Here's what some of the Actors had to say...
““I had a great time working with JED Productions on Tinderella. Jezza was a brilliant director who obviously cared a lot about the production and his cast! The rehearsal time was used efficiently and allowed me to explore my character, enhance my improvisation skills and make some great friends! Everything was very organised and ran very smoothly.””
“My experience working with JED productions was very positive. As a performer I was continually supported, encouraged to take risks and challenge myself as both character and actor. I never worried about the final product or felt nervous about performing because JED Productions were perpetually calm and in control. The experience definitely helped me as an actor. I learned a lot about improvisation, you never know what is going to happen with audience participation. The whole production taught me to be more courageous as an actor...The company continually treated me with respect and fairness. The company were always respectful, even when I was getting creamed or carry a giant inflatable penis, I never felt uncomfortable or forced to do anything I wasn’t happy to do. ”
“I had an absolutely wonderful time working with Jezza in Tinderella. The whole process was a joy, from rehearsals to the performances themselves to the after-show part where he rustled up a three-course meal for all the cast! He was a brilliant director, rehearsals were a safe place in which we could experiment and have fun...in fact this carried on into the show itself where we were free to improvise and ad-lib in true panto-fashion. Jezza made everything so easy for us as performers, there were never any issues or problems that he couldn’t solve quickly and calmly and he was never too busy to answer any questions or queries we had. With Jezza’s guidance I developed as a performer, he gave us the confidence to create our characters and bring them to life and those characters continued to grow throughout the run.”
"Panto season with JED Prods was a blast from the firstrehearsal to the last performance. This wasn't my first foray into PantoLand but I can honestly say it was probably the best experience I had as an actor in that field. Long may it continue!"
- Tracey Johnson, Actor in 2016
‘Having the opportunity to work with Jed Productions reminds me of the joy of working in theatre. The experience is fun and entertaining and audiences return year after year to see us. And the cast are professional and spontaneous. It’s always a bit of fun before Christmas!’
- Janelle Wheeler, Technician in 2015 & 2016
"JED prods has been an amazing company to work with that introduce me into the world of Panto , I have learnt a lot about being quick on my feet with audience participation and feeling confident breaking that forth wall down, This skill has definitely developed me as a more rounded performer."
- Jade Sullivan, Actor in 2015 & 2016
Audience Club (mostly industry professionals) had this to say...
'A-Ladd-In the City' 2013
Rated 5 stars: Such a fabulous way of spending a lunch time. It's a laugh a minute, good old-fashioned panto. Forego the pub, have a glass of your favourite tipple at the theatre and go and see this. I'm sure you will not regret it!
Rated 5 stars: Thoroughly enjoyable. What a great idea - a lunchtime play. With an enthusiastic cast, minimal scenery and props, outrageous jokes and classic panto audience participation.
Rated 5 stars: This is possibly the most fun you can have in public and legally, in 45min at lunch time!! We cried with laughter for all of 45min ........ GO - take your colleagues, sandwiches and "blow" you lunch break on some honest fun. A complete mash of soaps and panto - politics and London 2013 .............. hitting the nail on the head on all account. Forget the Christmas pub lunch - get a sarnie and get shouting "he's behind you"! You will love it!
'Tinderella', 2014
"Loved it! Such fun packed into 45 minutes! All the actors did a wonderful job to make the audience feel like part of the show"
"Every panto cliche mined in an exuberant, gloriously unsubtle innuendo packed production ...The script sends itself up...Cast are enthusiastic"
" A very pleasurable way to spend a lunch time. Lots of energy and laughs”
"A hilarious and witty production, acted with great enthusiasm. It is just what is needed on a cold December lunchtime to bring a bit of Christmas cheer"
"Wonderful lunchtime giggles that left me smiling all day!"
"I thought this was really great...There was almost a full house...the cast were terrific and very funny (and hard working). It reminded me of past pantos at Drill Hall".
'WHITTINGTON: A Dick in the City', 2015
" Just been and saw your show. Totally bonkers and thoroughly enjoyed myself!! This is a must see!!" 4 Stars
"Very enjoyable show. Reverting to childhood for lunch was great fun. Some nice jokes and excellent comic acting" 4 Stars
"A great show...good hearted panto fun with lots of audience involvement, and some hilarious moments. An outstanding performance from the Dame, Sally. I would go again." 4 Stars
"Very entertaining...the dialogue was full of innuendos..." 4 Stars
"Short panto ideal for the city lunch hour - All the usual ingredients in 50 minutes of good old smutty innuendo and audience participation. No surprise there's plenty of Dick jokes!" 4 Stars
'Jack & his Beanstalk; Lean, Green & Fully Erect', 2016
"My first panto ever, i was not sure what to expect, but i really enjoyed this bit of British tradition. It is a very lovely production. The cast was energetic, fabulous and very warm - they made all of us feel welcome. It was a lunch break (45 mins) extremely well spent. Highly recommended, this show deserves a full house, i for sure will be back to this hidden gem!" 5 stars
"A real feel good Christmas show, with lots of laughs and topical jokes...after the last twelve months they had plenty of material to work with...the cast were full of energy and there was a lovely buzzy feeling of enthusiasm in the audience". 5 stars
"Very funny, topical, pint-sized panto. A real giggle at lunchtime!" 4 stars
"A great panto with reference to current affairs. Great audience participation. The cast had us all laughing. The show was even more amusing as it was done on a budget and improvisation was hilarious. A terrific lunchtime activity..." 4 stars
"This is panto as it should be. Daft, full of innuendo and high campery...audience participation which we all did...get to see this, it's hilarious and worth the trip to St Brides." 4 Stars
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