The quirky custom of pantomime is now a staple of British culture, and each Christmas millions attend these all-singing-all-dancing performances to get into the festive mood. The premise is slightly odd though, to say the least. If an alien landed in the London Palladium on Christmas Eve it really would be difficult to explain the panto madness onstage.
Estimated to have first been established in Britain in the 1720s, pantomime has a long history of traditions that theatres are still following today. Here are ten that contribute to the magic…
1) Pantos are based on children’s stories
Pantos are nearly always based on famous children’s stories like Cinderella, Mother Goose, and Dick Whittington. They won’t be anything like your typical fable though, with witty jokes and social satire transforming the tales into comedies that appeal to all the family. Pantos often bend these stories even more by adding characters from other tales or creating new ones altogether.
2) It’s the audience’s job to boo and hiss
With pantomime, normal theatre etiquette goes out the window. Part of the Christmas fun is that the audience is encouraged to chime in with cheers for the heroes or booing for the villains whenever they please. In panto, the audience feels as if they are in charge of making sure good defeats evil.
3) Oh no it isn’t!
Over the years a few staple phrases have worked their way into every panto performance across Britain. Audience interaction will involve taking part in repetitive shouting battles, so if you are heading to a pantomime this year be prepared to yell iconic phrases like “Oh yes it is” or “Oh no it isn’t” on a loop.
4) The villain enters from the left
It is a pantomime tradition for the ‘goodie’ characters to enter from the right and for the ‘baddie’ characters to enter from stage left. This dates back to theatre in the Middle Ages where the left of the stage would represent hell and the right heaven.
5) It’s bad luck for performers to rehearse the panto’s ending
Traditionally the last few lines of the show are said in rhyming-couplets which humorously sum up the story and the fates of the characters. There is a panto superstition that it is unlucky to say these lines without an audience present and so they are usually performed for the first time on opening night.
6) Cross-dressing
The dolled-up panto dame has been played by a man since the 19th century and is now an iconic emblem of panto. It is also tradition that the principal boy be played by a woman. Some companies have even started putting on all-drag pantos.
7) Celebs often get involved
Panto has a long history of casting famous faces. In the Victorian Era, it was music hall stars, but nowadays we see former talent show contestants, actors, and comedians. This year panto’s across the UK are welcoming minor celebs like Anton du Beke, Katie Price, and Faye Tozer.
8) The ghost gag
The ‘ghost’ scene is a traditional routine where a monster, scary animal, or ghoul will frighten the lead characters away until only one is left. Get ready to shout “It’s behind you!” at the top of your lungs.
9) The panto animal
Each panto has a non-talking animal, played by an actor in a suit. The most common are cows and horses in which one actor will be the head and the other will be the rear. The animals often provide moments of comedy with choreographed dance but honestly, the actors holding onto each other for dear life inside the costume is a much funnier thought.
10) The sing-along
This happens towards the end of the panto and often the silly song involves actions that the audience must repeat. What you might not know is this scene allows time for a massive set change and costume change in preparation for the extravagant finale
Must-See Scottish Pantos for 2023
- The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan: Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 25 Nov – 31 Dec
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: King’s Theatre, Glasgow, 9 Dec – 7 Jan
- Aladdin: Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, 1 Nov – 30 Dec
- Sleeping Beauty: His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, 22 Dec – 7 Jan
Featured Image Credit: Sky News
