By day Tom Richmond is a dentist.
Come evening, he is transformed into a pantomime dame.
Tom is part of the family that is Thomson-Leng Musical Society.
And he is performing in its 85th show – its 10th Dundee pantomime – since it was established 60 years ago.
Behind the scenes of a Dundee pantomime
Photographer Mhairi Edwards and journalist Cheryl Peebles met the cast and crew during final rehearsal for Rapunzel.
Here they document behind the scenes and what makes people like Tom so dedicated to amateur musical theatre.
Tom Richmond – Dame Trott
Tom, 41, from Dundee, performed in his first show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, as a Glasgow schoolboy.
“This is my 10th year in the panto, my decade of being the dame!
“I just love all the nonsense [of being the dame], I love the stupid jokes, I love the over the top acting, the faces, costumes, everything.
“When you put all the hair and make-up on it changes you and people act differently towards you.
“It takes 45 minutes to do the full make-up. Taking it off doesn’t actually take that long but the glitter stays forever!”
What does it feel like being on stage for a Dundee pantomime?
“Amazing. You can’t really describe the buzz you get from the audience.”
Eilidh McLaren-Hussain – The Queen
Three generations of Eilidh McLaren-Hussain’s family have performed in Thomson-Leng’s Dundee pantomimes.
Hotels revenue manager Eilidh, 44, and children Raniyaa, 12, and Rayaan, 10, from Dundee, share the stage. Up to last year her mum Sharon McLaren was also in the cast.
“I’ve been brought up in the Gardyne. When she [mum] did rehearsals here I got dragged along to help out with programmes.
“Technically Raniyaa was in [Thomson-Leng’s] first ever panto because I was pregnant with her when we started them, but I didn’t know.
“They’re [the children] one of the main reasons I still do it now.
“It’s great being on stage with them. The last couple of years we had the three generations of us.
Gordon and Rachel Hogg – stage crew and production assistant
Gordon Hogg, 67, from Wormit, was drafted into the Thomson-Leng chorus nearly 50 years ago to replace a member called to duty elsewhere.
“I turned up to sell programmes one night and came back the next to help back stage.
“But one of the chorus men, a journalist, had been called away to a train crash in Glasgow.
“So I went on stage that night and when I came off stage they said, we’ll get you a costume and you can do the rest of the week.
“The reason I crew now is that people crewed for me. Without the people backstage the show doesn’t happen.”
Now retired, Gordon was a theatre charge nurse before teaching surgery. He got daughter Rachel involved in musical theatre at a young age.
Rachel, 31, a St Andrew University personal assistant from Newport, says: “It was like a babysitter, he would just bring me to rehearsals!”
Her most memorable role? “Nancy in Oliver a couple of years back. The iconic red dress and the cockney accent.
“Singing solo is cathartic.”
Donna Bell – director
Former architect Donna Bell has risen through the ranks of the society over 26 years.
Donna, 57, now an NHS activities coordinator from Dundee, says: “I started as the tea lady!
“I moved from backstage to on stage quite quickly but backstage is my comfort zone.
“It’s crazy the conversations you have here. ‘Has anyone seen a toadstool?’
“We spend a week together in this craziness. I’ve met lifelong friends here.
“Usually they say if I don’t cry on opening night there’s something wrong!”
Madeleine Keningdale – Rapunzel
“This dress makes me feel like a Disney princess and the hair makes it even more magical,” says student Madeleine Keningdale, 23.
“You do get nervous when you’re by yourself [on stage] but once you are into it you are fine.
“You just feel like your character then you come off stage and you’re so happy.”
Ashley Petrie – wardrobe manager
Education consultant, Ashley Petrie, 41, from Dundee, is in charge of around 300 costumes for the panto.
“I can’t sew a stitch but I used to be a primary school teacher and put 400 kids on stage so I’m pretty good at spreadsheets and organising people!
“We start from the vision in Donna’s head. We have to understand that, see what she wants and what’s possible.
“My mum – Wendy Meiklejohn, 75 – has got involved this year. She can sew, so that helps.
“Anything that can’t be glued or held together with safety pins she does.
“I’ve got a brilliant team of mums that come and help on Saturdays when the kids are at rehearsals.”
Ellen Ryder – Quinn
While Ellen Ryder, 30, from Dundee, is on stage her mum Alison is in charge of props.
“Our house is a little bit mad around this time. There’s always something random, like she will be looking for a hanky that sticks to the wall!
“When we did The Addams Family there were chainsaws, axes and bits of blood everywhere. Giant sandwiches in the kitchen are a normal thing now!”
Ellen was a child when she joined aged 10, and is now a mum herself to 18-month-old Jude.
“I’ve grown up with these people. It sounds really cheesy, but it is just like one big family.”
Archie Turnbull – Harold the jester
Morgan Academy pupil and saxophonist Archie Turnbull, 16, says opening night is “something else”.
“All the anticipation happens in the first night, once that’s done it’s easy street.
“In rehearsals you have this community round about you, the friendships, the bonds, and you’re becoming a team to make a show happen.”
Dundee pantomime Rapunzel by Thomson-Leng Musical Society runs at Gardyne Theatre from December 4 to 8.
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