6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Opening Scene
I've been writing Panto for The Helix in Dublin since 2008 and the opening scene is always tricky. Here's SIX TIPS on creating an opening that doesn't drag on, introduces your main characters, establishes the Theme's to be explored and sets our hero off on their journey to a Happily Ever After!
STEP 1: …Timing
12 minutes! Tops! This is the sweet spot in a 2 hour (including interval!) production. And that’s with the opening number! So yeah, not much time at all when you have a lot to get through. This makes it imperative to make EVERY. LINE. COUNT!
STEP 2: Where Are We?
I’ll tell ya where…THE VILLAGE! Every time. Opening in the village is great for THREE REASONS:
1) Space for a big opening number.
2) A vibrant colourful set to open on.
3) Every character you need to introduce can appear in the village without any questions asked.
STEP 3: Who We Meet…
What characters appear in the opening scene? For me, I generally deal with 8 Principal roles. We don’t introduce all of them here but we do introduce the majority. They are:
1) YOUR LEAD. Whether it’s Jack, Cinders, Aladdin or Sleeping Beauty, you want them to be the first person that introduces themselves to the audience. After all, it’s their story!
2) THEIR BEST FRIEND. The one who has the CALL BACK with the audience.
3) THE DAME. Enters with a fanfare! A lot of productions will give the Dame a 10 minute slot all by herself! I give her a quick few gags to build rapport with the audience and then get back to the story!
4) THE BADDIES SIDE-KICK. Another comic character that comes bursting onto the scene. They sets themselves up as a bit of an eejit (that’s a fool, for those not from Ireland!) They also make reference to the Baddie in some capacity to set up their inevitable entrance.
5) THE BADDIE. The last to arrive onto the scene. He/She enters to some ‘evil’ music, quickly establisihing how evil they are and letting the audience know this is the person to Boo at!
STEP 4: Theme’S & The Inciting Incident…
Our first port of call in this scene is letting the audience know who’s who and the dynamic of each relationship. Within these intro’s, we feed the audience the THEME or THEME’S that will be explored throughout the story. Jack and his Mom are struggling financially. Cinders dreams of a better life. Whatever it is you choose is set out in this scene.
Then, the INCITING INCIDENT. What is it that sets your hero off on his/her journey? For Jack, it’s an eviction notice. For Cinders, it’s the invitation to a Ball. For Archie in my The Sword in the Stone script it was receiving a mysterious package.
Whatever you choose to be your inciting incident. Make it happen in the first scene!
STEP 5: Music!
Music, of course, plays a huge role in a Panto. That opening number has to be an absolute BANGER! Grabbing your audience from the start with a well known song instantly gives you credit in the bank and lifts the already excitable atmosphere in the theatre.
Similarly, the Entrance Music for certain characters is important. It informs your audience who is about to come on stage. If it’s the heroes best friend, you might want a short snippet of a Chart Topping Song. If it’s the Dame, something more in tune with the adults in the audience. And of course for our Baddie, something sinister!
STEP 6: The Structure
Here is a breakdown for the layout of the Opening Scene...
1. Opening Number.
2. Hero introduces themselves to the audience
3. Best Friend enters. Dialogue with Hero to establish the Theme. Teaches their Call Back.
4. Enter the Dame! Some back-and-forth with the audience then straight back to the story.
5. The Baddie’s Side-Kick. Some comic bit while also setting up the Baddie.
6. The Baddie. Enters to evil music. Establishes their ‘Baddiness!’ and sets off the
Inciting Incident.
If you are interested in licensing a script, click the link for available titles, sample scenes and for my writing and directing reel taken from my version of The Sword in the Stone for
The Helix Panto : https://merryvilleproductions.com/pantoscripts