I've helped to organise one
My then-gf wrote a script, which while it wasn't incredible, wasn't bad at all, but seriously suffered from a lack of laughs. Over a few months, we managed to make it funnier bit by bit, but still not incredible. She ran what was happening on stage with the actors, I made sure that backstage wasn't a calamity, that the stage hands knew when to be on and off the stage, and also helped set up the lighting and microphones, etc. I was also the one who'd bollock people if they didn't do things properly, the useless fucks.

That panto stressed me to hell, but by christ it was good fun. When it came to opening day, it turned out they'd suprised me with a part in the play, I got to play 'Peter Pan's Shadow' (and the bastards wouldn't even let me black up). I had to wear a black t shirt, black shorts, and tights on every open part of my body. I was not pleased.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 1 Dec 2010, 10:38, Reply)