THE YEAR IS WRAPPED ON THEATRE 

Oh no it isn’t! 

The year is coming to a close, but it is not quite through yet for theatre. 

Christmas is a time key for drama and much of this is through TV and film, as families gather round to watch their favourite Christmas specials or back to back movies all day – I personally am looking forward to the long awaited Wallace and Gromit new release. Some lucky recipients among us may even receive theatre tickets for Christmas. 

However, there is a staple to the British Christmas season, and that is of course Pantomime. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, Pantomime or ‘Panto’ is a comedic theatre performance, often based on a children’s fairytale. They can include songs, slapstick, and dancing, but traditionally have a dame (played by a middle-aged man in drag), a villain, and are packed with mildly inappropriate innuendos that keep the attention of adults watching. If you do watch a pantomime, participation will be encouraged, with singing along and shouting out phrases like “he’s behind you!” whilst the villain keeps conveniently disappearing timed to when the protagonist turns around. 

I’ve watched pantomimes for as long as I can remember. I once sat in the first few rows and had Simon Webbe from Blue lie across my lap mid-song in order to serenade me and my friend. If you dig through the internet hard enough, I myself have acted in one, emerging from the back of the auditorium and completing a diving roll onto the stage. I’ve also been behind the scenes on three pantomimes. 

As a child these performances were filled with excitement, hoping to be summoned onto the stage when they invite up select individuals. Charmed by the bright lights, glittering sets and elaborate costumes. And as if it couldn’t get any better, we’d get ice cream during the interval. For many children, this might even be their first experience of going to the theatre. 

As we get older, somewhere along the way, most seem to stop attending pantomimes, unless dragged along by younger siblings. After becoming too cool or too old to participate, they seem to lose their magic. 

I will always respect the hard work that goes into each show. They are planned sometimes a full year prior, picking the show, writing, casting, rehearsing. When it comes to performing, the cast and crew do shows two or three times a day. 

The thing about pantomime is that fun really does seep out of every performance I’ve watched, even now as an adult. After they have put the show on several times, you gain moments where things go wrong or they improvise, and it only adds to it. Some of my fondest memories watching theatre are still pantomimes. They might be ridiculous and feel silly, but if you do get the chance to watch one this year, no matter how old you think you are, go and enjoy it. You’re never too old for Panto!

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