insideKENT Magazine Issue 43 - October 2015 | Page 38

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

Q&A WITH

MICHEAL HARRISON
Managing Director Of Qdos Entertainment’s Pantomimes Division

Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos
Entertainment’s pantomimes division, spoke with Michelle
King, The Orchard Theatre’s marketing & press officer
about the 3D in this year’s production of Dick Whittington
starring Shane Richie, which runs from Saturday 12th
December at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford.
How do you decide which part of Dick
Whittington will have 3D special effects and
what gives you inspiration for this?

Michael Harrison, Managing Director of
Qdos Entertainment’s pantomimes division

The use of 3D gives us the opportunity to include
sequences in the pantomime which wouldn’t
otherwise be possible to stage – it allows us a
lot of creative licence. We use 3D in a number of
our titles; most recently Dartford audiences will
have seen our 3D in Aladdin, which provided a
very intimate experience with the Genie, who is
able to meet the audience and interact with them
in a way which wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
In Dick Whittington we have a new sequence
which The Orchard Theatre audiences won’t have
seen before – you’ll be transported underwater,
without getting wet!

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How do you feel audiences react to 3D
special effects?
The 3D sequences are carefully integrated into
the script and are designed to help us move the
plot forward, so they feel very natural within the
context of the show. Its great fun watching the
audiences as the 3D runs – everyone is totally
captivated, reaching out to touch things which
they think are nearby, which in reality are of course
on a screen nowhere near them.
Dick Whittington, which features new 3D
sequences, is staged by Qdos Entertainment,
the World’s biggest pantomime producer. To be
sure of the best seats contact the ticket office
today on 01322 220000.