The annual Vincent De Paul (VDP) Panto is a classic tradition. Each year the panto sees well over a hundred auditions from students across years and disciplines in college. The auditions are nothing short of hilarious and humiliating (in the best way possible!) and should you find yourself with a spot on the cast, then the panto itself brings the school year light, laughter, and many a fond memory.
But it isn’t just for the college student looking to get involved and try new things. The panto — like all VDP activities — is geared towards helping others. Each cast member is assigned an activity to go to each week. This activity might be one of the after school clubs that work with inner city schools, one of the Sunday kids clubs, or Trinity Club – which is for adults with additional support needs. The panto is a means through which children, adults, and college students alike can goof around, sing and dance, dress up, and create and be a part of something to be proud of. It helps grow and develop confidence within the children and adults in the panto, instills a sense of purpose during the rehearsal stage, and creates a great sense of achievement as the curtains drop on the final night.
I was in the panto in second year, when we did the Pirates of the Caribbean. In first year, I went to see the panto, Book of Spells, a wonderful play on the Harry Potter series. Walking out of the the O’Reilly theater that night I knew I had to get involved in the panto however I could that autumn, and I did. Panto changed my college experience for the better. I met people and made friends I wouldn’t have otherwise, I got involved in the weekly activities VDP runs, and I saw first hand all the joy the panto brings. From rehearsals twice a week 7-9pm to panto fundraising bucket collecting to the infamous cast parties, it was what made my second year of college one which I shall cherish forever.
Panto also allowed me to bond with the children in kids clubs every weekend. Whether it was attempting to teach them dances I barely knew myself, or watching them conquer stage fright, or messing up their lines even when I was there whispering it in their ear, it was a reminder of the pure innocence and joy which such a silly play brings a child. The kids’ “excitement is infectious” says Damien McLean, who was a cast member in last year’s panto. The kids and adults were so excited come opening night, the backstage of the theatre so buzzing with excitement, nerves, and children hyped up on sugar and pizza. The weekend of the panto was one of the best weekends of my life. I never even had a moment to pause and breath as each second was spent going over dances and lines or else entertaining the children between scenes. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The panto is curial to VDP because it is how a huge amount of volunteers get involved. Students can get involved through the cast or by helping with sets and costumes. With the allocating of cast members to activities, it means there are more people volunteering each week, which makes activities run more smoothly and eventually opens up the possibility of creating new activities. This year, two new schools are being added to the after school programs, and end of last year saw the creation of a second Trinity Club! Katie Sheehan, who has been involved in the panto for four years, starting with “sewing tutus in costumes” and now on the committee for this year’s panto, and she can’t “think of a better way to end [her experience than] with fundraising the 10th guaranteed-to-be amazing production of the phenomenal work VDP does.”
While the panto is not the most important part of the society by any means, it is one which yields new volunteers, gives the people with whom we work an opportunity to perform and try new things, and it creates a show which can’t help but leave every person entertaining and spectating smiling from ear to ear. The panto also helps promote an interest in performance for the children, which can help build their confidence. This year’s panto is the Lion King, a feat which is only apt for the 10 year anniversary of the panto, and while it will be a challenge, it will also be one of the best pantos yet (don’t tell last years committee I said that)! While the cast has been made, it is never too late to get involved through costumes or sets! Costumes meet outside Lecky at 7pm every Tuesday and run for an hour. Sets is every Friday, meeting at 12pm outside the science gallery until 2, but welcome anyone for any amount of time, even five minutes.
The VDP panto is by far one of the most wholesome events of the year. Audience and performers are brought together in laughter, song, and the classic panto scene when the audience is asked a question like “who did it?” and the whole audience responds correctly together in quintessential panto tradition. It is impossible to leave the panto without feeling on cloud nine.
