What is a Pantomime?

A pantomime is a traditional British Christmas play. They are an important part of our Christmas festivities. They are performed in theatres, villages halls and community centres. © copyright of projectbritain.com

Pantomimes contain a number of standard ingredients:

• Cross dressing - In pantomimes the male roles are often played by women and female roles by men. This makes the audience laugh more.
• Audience participation - an important part of a pantomime. "He's behind you", and "Oh no he's not - Oh yes he is" are heard in every pantomime across the country.

Why do we visit Pantomimes at Christmas?

The origins of the pantomimes lie in the old Christmas mummers plays presented by an all male casts in the great halls of manor houses. Every play had moral and always the extreme good defeated the extreme evil, much like what happens in pantomimes today. © copyright of projectbritain.com

When do Pantomimes start?

Pantomimes traditionally start on Boxing Day and run for two or three months in theatres around the country.

Pantomimes today

Now-a-days, pantomimes are great family entertainments and pop stars, comedians, sports people and TV personalities often take part in them.

Favourite pantomimes

Peter Pan	Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs	Cinderella	Jack & the Beanstalk

History of Pantomimes

Originally silent productions, the pantomimes are a mix of fairy stories, folk tales and much loved cartoons, which encourage audience participation. The audience becomes very involved in the performance, with lots of hissing and booing of the villain and cheering for the hero. Some pantomimes include a song for the audience to join in with, and others invite children up on stage to chat to one of the performers.

The Night before Christmas

On the night before Christmas Emily stares out of the window, hugs her teddy and waits excitedly for the morning, while in the corner a little mouse called Eddie can't understand why only humans are allowed to celebrate and get presents. So he sets off in search of Father Christmas to find out for himself. Along the way he dodges the family cat, gets directions from a cowardly toy soldier and is given some unexpected advice from the magical fairy on top of the tree. Will Eddie get an answer? Will Emily get her wish? And what is that funny-shaped present sitting under the tree?