History of Pantomime

The word pantomime in Britain means a form of entertainment, which is generally performed during the festive season. The majority of cities and towns throughout Britain have some form of pantomime during the festive period. The origins of British Pantomimes or ‘Panto's for short can be traced back to the middle Ages, taking onboard the traditions of the Italian ‘Commedia Dell' Arte, the Italian night scenes and British music halls to produce intrinsic art form that has constantly been adapted that has helped this great festive institution survive for so long.

Panto's are not just a British tradition. Pantomimes have been proved popular in Australia, Canada, and South Africa - recently a ‘Babes In The woods' production in Harare, Zimbabwe's Rainbow Seven Arts Theatre. In 1868, a production of ‘Humpty Dumpty' ran over 1,200 performances at New York's Olympic Theatre, it was the most successful pantomime in America's history.

Today's panto's are mainly aimed at children, and are normally based on a children's folk legend or fairytale. The most popular subjects for panto's are ‘Cinderella' followed ‘Aladdin', ‘Dick Whittington', and ‘Snow White'. Other popular pantomime titles are 'Jack and The Beanstalk', ‘Babes In The Woods' (normally combined with ‘Robin Hood') and ‘Sleeping Beauty'. ‘Peter Pan' is starting to rise in popularity, although some purists might argue that this is not strictly a pantomime, but a children's story based on J. M. Barrie's play. ‘Peter Pan' was first performed in 1904 at London's Duke of York's Theatre, and was later transferred very successfully to America. In the 21^st century, ‘Peter Pan' has all of the elements that any panto requires, and is one of the most highly popular Christmas shows around Britain.

Pantomimes within Britain are a thriving business. The large theatres compete with each other every year to get ‘star' names so that they will have full houses. Panto's usually run for 6 to 8 weeks, which gives the box offices up an down the country, some much needed revenue. 20-years ago, panto's would open a week before Christmas and run all the way through till February, today the majority of theatres could not sustain such a lengthy run. However, Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre; Southampton's Mayflower Theatre and Wolverhampton's The Grand Theatre are all exceptions.

Such pantomime giants as E & B productions, can present up to at least 30 pantomime productions in Britain alone and several others abroad too. During its history, pantomimes have witnessed other pantomime impresarios, such as Augustus Harris ‘Father of Modern Pantomime' performing in 1870 at London's Dury Lane Theatre. Harris, was the manager of Dury Lane's and the first to introduce stars of popular music hall into his productions, creating lavish productions that popularised the genre, forcing managements not just in London, but all over Britain to ensure that every town had at least one or two pantomime's running every Christmas.

In 1930 Francis Laidler took on the mantle of ‘King of Pantomimes' by producing shows at Bradford's Alhamba Theatre, which were then presented all over Britain. The subjects on offer during the 1930s and 1940s now include those that are longer popular. Such titles as ‘Little Red Riding Hood', ‘Humpty Dumpty', and ‘Goody Two Shows' have all but vanished; recent times have since the gradual disappearance of such programmes as ‘Mother Goose', ‘Puss In Boots', and ‘Robinson Crusoe'. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Pantomime Crown fell to Derek Salberg, who created productions for Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre in a style and tradition that made them justifiably famous.

In today's society the cost of a pantomime production has been estimated to cost anything between £150,000 to anything over half a million pounds. Just think the cost of pantomimes that were held in London's Covent Garden and Dury Lane many centuries ago cost no more than £1,000.

Throughout its existence pantomimes have combined many elements of the theatre into its productions and by adaption have survived. ‘Novelty' has always been the forerunner within pantomimes, as its ability to encompass modern trends and topicality, within a structured framework. Some people in society will talk about the ‘traditional' pantomime; but to retain their popularity this form of entertainment in the theatre has also had to keep a firm eye on modern trends within society, and by weaving all of these formats into their productions, have kept it one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Britain.

Elements that pantomimes still have tradition are -

They start with a strong story line. The fairy tale or fable must be told well, by incorporating all the important elements of good battling against evil, and coming through triumphant. However, the concept can vary a little from the medieval morality plays, performed on the local village green.

In today's tradition, the pantomime villain will always be the first to enter, from the left side of the stage ‘dark side' followed by the adversary good fairy entering from the right side of the stage. This echoes the tradition of medieval times when then entrances to heaven and hell were placed on these sides.

Pantomime plots are very easy and simple -

• A Girl will dress up as a boy
• Who is usually the son
• of a man who is dressed up as a woman
• who will always win the other girl (and surprisingly dresses as a girl)
• with the help of a person(s) dressed in animal skins.

Regardless of were the pantomime is set (Chine, Never-Never-Land or the City of London) it will contain all the aspects needed for a pantomime.

In every panto production their will be a 'Demon King' (normally the baddie) and a 'Fairy Queen' (always the Goody) although their exact title and guise may vary. From Old King Rat to Modern Fairy Liquid; Peter Pan and Hook; all their names vary according to the location of the panto and topicality of the production. Howver, certain stage directions throughout the centuries still exist even in today's panto are still going strong. The 'baddies' will always come onto the stage from the stages left; this tradition goes gback to the mysteryplays and they very few working star traps, through which the baddie would be projected onto the stge through a puff of smoke, will always be found in the down stage left position. All pantomime stories require the PRINCIPLE BADDIE that makes all the innocent characters lives a misery, from the start. However, by the end of the show, all the baddies and their main henchman will either have been destroyed or will have seen the errors of their ways and will be reformed characters.

Although a 'PRINCIPAL BOY' is usually played by a female, even though it is the role of a boy hero. The woman playing the @principal Boy' will normally wear a short dress, tight fitting skirt (the shorter and tighter the better) accompanied by knee high leather boots and fishnet tights.

Always played by the prettiest female in the Panto's cast, and traditionally portrayed as the epitome of innocence and youth. And will always end up 'living happily ever after' with the principal boy.

The Dame is traditionally a principal boy part. The dame is normally dressed in outrageous costumes.