Oh yes it is.

       Hello, lovelies.

             I am just minutes away from finishing a local community pantomime that I had the pleasure of working on. And now with a large cup of coffee in hand, I’ve had just enough time to reflect on my weekend. Apart from being exhausted and having no idea where my handbag is, I find myself asking the question – What have I learnt from all of this? But is it important to learn anything, as taking part should be enough. Or is taking part in what is quintessentially a very British tradition important, as a good old-fashioned panto is a gateway show that allows those who would not normally go to the theatre a way to see, join in and maybe, just maybe, take part in themselves. 

                I am a founding member of a fun local community theatre group. The aims are quite simple, it’s open to all, to make local theatre affordable and accessible as possible, and hopefully let everyone join in, make friends and put on a laugh filled pantomime. And after ten years, we have routinely written, cast, costumed and put on a wide variety of pantomimes. Last year was Cinderella, the Shoe must go on. Followed by The Three Musketeers this year. With the plan being that next year, we will be staging Mother Goose. There is never a dull moment. But so many people have asked me why I would want to put myself through all the hard work, the writing, casting, directing and set making that can take months of planning and working through, my answer is always the same. It’s because I just love it. Yes, there are moments that I think that I must be crazy. That what seemed like a good idea a few months ago, suddenly turns into the straw that broke the directors back. The evening rehearsals on cold winter evenings. The script, that once seemed so perfect, suddenly sound nothing like the one I’d written. With the missing or late actors. The cold rehearsal spaces. The ever-changing props list, and the sudden realisation that someone is sick, so I may have mere minutes to learn all the lines before going on as an understudy. Those are the moments where I find myself saying – This is definitely the last time I’m going to do this.

          But as soon as the last panto is wrapping up, my fingers start to twitch, and I find myself sitting at my laptop and starting to write the next one. Am I just a glutton for punishment? Do I have far too much time on my hands? Or is the whole process of putting on a show so worth it?

         And why do we Brits love pantomimes so much? Where has this tradition come from? Were they actually created in England? What is the story behind the popular Christmas time show?

       It is thought that a relatively uneducated man named John Rich produced what is now thought to be the first real pantomime in 1721. It was called The Magician. Harlequin was transformed into a mischievous, funny magician as well remaining the love interest of Columbine. These characters emanated from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, which was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italy, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. And through John Rich, the characters grew and transformed into what we recognize today. 

        There are many different characteristics that make up a pantomime. From the villain and good fairy. A principal boy that is usually played by a girl and a panto dame that is played by a man. Where good always wins, and the baddies always gets what they deserve. The audiences boo and hiss, to cheering loudly for the heroes to win. With dances and a mix of old songs and new modern ones, TV celebrities to Hollywood stars, pantomimes have been entertaining both adults and children for generations. It may have been born in England, but the festive panto has been enjoyed in many countries around the world. 

          There are many panto tropes and rules that all good pantomimes must adhere to. From the evil villain always entering from stage left, whilst the fairy always enters from the right. Where good always win, and a redemption arc for the baddie towards the end of act two. The boy always gets the girl, and the dame always gets her man. There’s usually a slosh scene. A ‘Pepi’s’ ghost scene. Oh yes it is to oh no it isn’t. Brokers men to Barons, dancers and transformation scenes. There is always the endless quest for money that leads to all manner of mishaps like selling of cows for magic beans to heading off to London where the streets are paved with gold. 

           Based on fairy tales, our beloved pantos are the one thing that we can all look forward to. They allow us to spend the evening rooting for the heroes to win. It’s not just a show that you must quietly sit through, but one that it is expected for you join in with. And what better time to see a panto than in the dark of winter, where you enter the theatre cold and leave with a warm heart and feeling that all is right with the world. We Brits, that can be so divided in our everyday lives, will sit together to clap and sing, boo and hiss until the curtain falls. 

        But the little panto I was working on, without the mega budget and vast selection of costumes and props, lighting designers and stage crew, how could we make a difference in these crazy times? But we did. We opened our doors to people who would otherwise not have had the courage or ability to take part, learn lines and stand in front of a full auditorium to act, sing and have a fantastic time. I was privileged to watch actors grow and shine, as they worked towards the final show. People asked me if they could take part next year and thanked the production crew for all their dedication and hard work. That’s why what we were doing was so important.

        So, love it or hate it, pantomime will always be there. So maybe next year you could look into joining a group, auditioning and taking part yourself.