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Claire Richmond

Panto, TV Production & Working from Home Alone: Teamwork is Dreamwork


A group of people learning a dance routine for Panto
Leaning the moves to 'Venus'

The Big Breakfast on Channel 4. That was the reason I packed up my Pan European PR campaigns (and PR career) in my late 20s and applied for work experience at Planet 24, the production company that used to make the show. I fell in love with the energy, the colours and the craziness of The Big Breakfast. So maybe it’s no surprise that in my late 50s I decided to join my local panto group, the St Michael’s Players of Chiswick. The energy, colours and craziness weren’t the only draw though. Taking part in Panto also keeps me fit in the run up to Christmas, both physically and mentally. Because we have to learn seven dance routines – and the accompanying songs. It’s a great workout for my body and brain, which is very important as I head towards my 60s. There’s another reason though, and one which anyone who works from home can probably relate to. I joined Panto because I wanted to be part of a team again. Working on the Big Breakfast – and on several programmes after that (the BBCs Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook, Don’t Get Done Get Done, etc) – gave me that sense of community. Yes it was work – and hard work – but it was fun. You felt you were part of something. And something exciting to boot. We were always thinking out of the box and when things hit the fan – which they often did – we sorted them out together. Because as my boss once said to me, a problem shared is a problem halved. Being in Panto is the same. It’s teamwork at its best. Everything from setting up the stage and putting out the chairs during the rehearsals and performances to practicing the dance routines and figuring out how to create snowmen and troll costumes and carve an ice throne out of a large block of Styrofoam for Mother Goose. Being part of a team is also inspiring. You hear about things people have seen, tried or done - films, restaurants, holidays, online courses, charity drives etc - and you add them to your wish list. I remember a work colleague telling me about the Camino de Santiago when I was Series Producing Don’t Get Done Get Dom for the BBC. It sounded amazing and, as a result of that chat, I packed my bags many years later and walked the last 100 miles of the Camino – on my own - to mark my 50th birthday (read about it here).

A quick search online confirms that being part of a team encourages personal growth (challenges are opportunities for excellence!), reduces stress (we can share whatever’s bothering us with friends), increases our chances of solving problems (we can turn to other people for ideas and different perspectives), improves productivity (two heads are always better than one) and creates a sense of camaraderie. In short, being part of a team is really good for you. Panto does it for me. But there are so many ways to be part of a team. On a recent trip to Bruges we noticed that the Llandaff Cathedral Choir were performing at Sint Gilliskerk as part of their Belgium tour, so we went along. What amazing teamwork that was! What voices! And what fun to be touring Belgium with a group of friends. So if you work from home alone and miss the camaraderie, support, motivation, inspiration and collective energy of being part of a team, join one! We’re spoilt for choice. Choirs, bands, book clubs and local theatres; running, rowing, kayaking or any number of sports activities; volunteering - anything from dry stone walling to helping with Park Runs or planting bulbs in your community gardens; bridge, knitting, woodwork groups. The list is endless. As I'm rather partial to inspiring and motivational quotes, here are a few to end with: “The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.” Margaret Carty “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” Steve Jobs “There is no such thing as a self-made [person]. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” George Shinn


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