The nights are getting darker, the scarves are being dusted off and there’s mince pies on the shelves which can only mean one thing – it’s pantomime season (oh yes it is!). Now if you’re wondering what on earth I’m getting so excited about, buckle up for my (fairly short) summary of the age-old British pantomime tradition.
Believed to have been invented by mime artist John Rich in the 1720s, pantomimes have been entertaining people up and down the country for years, usually taking place on various dates between November and February each winter. The storyline is (loosely!) based on a fairytale and there are many ‘must haves’ within a pantomime, making it unique from other theatrical art-forms. Certain productions will have their own twist but here’s a rundown of the most common features of a pantomime, regardless of whether it’s a professional or amateur production.
The Pantomime Dame
The dame is most often played by a male who dresses as a woman. They are very funny and use a lot of improvisation but essentially are usually the mother of the poor boy or a woman searching for love, having been married 100 times before…. They are not to be taken seriously!
Comedy rating: 10/10
Costume changes: Every scene (always outrageous!)
The Principal Boy and Principal Girl
These are your main two characters, the prince and princess / Aladdin and Jasmine who mostly always end up married. But don’t get confused – the Principal Boy is more often than not played by a female. If this is the case they’ll probably be sporting a French plait, fish-net tights and knee high boots they’ll learn to walk in (believe me, we’ve all been there….)
Comedy Rating: 2/10
Costume changes: 2 (always for the wedding scene)
Comedy Duo
Think Ant and Dec, Dick and Dom, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. This pair can come in any form – royal guards, knights or waiters depending on the storyline, but they are always a silly pair trying to get involved but making people laugh instead. From my experience, this is the funniest part to play!
Comedy rating: 8/10
Costume changes: 1
The Ghost Chase
Not always a ghost, but there’s always a scene where some main characters sit on a bench in the middle of the stage and a ‘ghost’ appears behind them whilst they sing a well known song. During this scene, there’s a chorus of “it’s behind you!” and “the ghost went that way!” from the audience. The characters are ‘scared’ off by the ghost one by one until it’s only the Dame and the ghost left, with the Dame looking too eccentrically ugly that the ghost itself is scared off! I’ve seen many variations of this scene but the bench is a staple. It’s great for kids and if you just tell yourself it’s funny, you’ll be fine
Audience Participation
When you watch a pantomime as a child, you’ll love the constant “it’s behind you!”, and “oh no it isn’t! (oh yes it is)”, the constant screaming and shouting, and the slapstick art of people falling over. When you’re an adult, the production changes and you hear a whole new perspective on jokes and innuendoes! This is the beauty of pantomime – it really is for the whole family. As an audience member, you are encouraged to shout, scream and laugh as loud as you can (please do this as it makes it easier for those on stage!), and in a local pantomime you’ll also hear the more confident audience member heckling with performers.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly to understand, a pantomime is a bit of fun – “oh yes it is” (sorry I’ll stop, I’m boring myself too). It’s supposed to be eccentric with outrageous costumes, over the top props, loud cheesy music and overly traditional fairy-tale storylines. You have to take your serious hat off and settle down for a silly show (that you already know the ending of), whilst clapping, cheering and singing along and forgetting the world around you.
Pantomimes aren’t for everyone but as a huge fan myself, I would encourage everyone to give it ago and keep the magic of pantomime season alive!
