Pantomime is a popular area of theatre which is well practised in many countries around the world; most particularly Great Britain and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. Pantomimes are usually performed around the Christmas and New Year season for family audiences with plots often loosely based on traditional Children’s stories such as ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Puss In Boots’. Plays incorporate songs and dances, slapstick comedy, jokes and audience participation. Every play has a moral with the extreme good always defeating the extreme evil.
Pantomimes are very popular with children for many reasons. A woman usually plays the main male lead whilst a man in drag usually plays the ‘old pantomime dame’ creating many laughs. Children and parents are encouraged to boo the baddies, cheer the goodies and ‘awwww’ the victims. The audience are also involved with well-known shouts such as ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘oh no he isn’t… oh yes he is’. Often songs are sung with word cards for the audience to read and sing along to with competitions between audience sides on who can sing the loudest to the chorus.
Another pantomime tradition is the guest starring of celebrities. This tradition started in the 19th century when the owner of the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane in London hired well known artists for his pantomimes and this is still continuing today with soap stars, comedians and sports stars. Pantomimes are a big part of Christmas festivities for many families and are a very popular tradition.
Pantomimes are very popular with children for many reasons. A woman usually plays the main male lead whilst a man in drag usually plays the ‘old pantomime dame’ creating many laughs. Children and parents are encouraged to boo the baddies, cheer the goodies and ‘awwww’ the victims. The audience are also involved with well-known shouts such as ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘oh no he isn’t… oh yes he is’. Often songs are sung with word cards for the audience to read and sing along to with competitions between audience sides on who can sing the loudest to the chorus.
Another pantomime tradition is the guest starring of celebrities. This tradition started in the 19th century when the owner of the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane in London hired well known artists for his pantomimes and this is still continuing today with soap stars, comedians and sports stars. Pantomimes are a big part of Christmas festivities for many families and are a very popular tradition.