A short history on the history of Pantomime

We’ve just opened Cinderella and it’s now pantomania until 12 January. Cinderella is a fantastic pantomime and it has been argued that all stories fit into seven basic plots and Cinderella fits into one called ‘Rags and riches’. The foundation to each pantomime narrative is about a downtrodden hero getting the recognition he or she deserves with a few evil stepmother, fairies and giants thrown in.

Panto is a very specific type of production – albeit very silly – and is influenced by many different types of performance including Commedia Dell’Arte and Music Hall and are always based on fairy tales.

Commedia Dell’Arte dates back to the 1600s in Italy and France where actors would improvise their way through a plot with collection of stock characters such as Harlequin (principal boy), his true love (romantic lead), Pantaloon (over protective father), Pulchinello (the father’s hapless servant) and Clown (the unsuitable suitor). Pulchinello evolved into Mr Punch from Punch and Judy and the influences can be seen to this day not only in panto but in sitcoms such as The Simpsons and Faulty Towers.

The rise of Music Hall performance developed the popularity of slapstick and influenced Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy and their classic routines are pure pantomime. Another key similarity between music hall and pantomime is the use of songs of the day which is something the Coliseum sticks by. Although based on old traditions, panto has to keep re-inventing itself with modern references and songs to keep with the times otherwise it wouldn’t remain popular.

Slapstick also derives from something known as Italian Night Scenes which were mime pieces because Italian performers couldn’t speak English. This and Commedia Dell’Arte developed into Harlequinade which is very similar to the pantomime routines we see today but with no dialogue.

The first use of the word Pantomime emerged in the early 18th Century in a “ballet-pantomime”. Harlequinade had become so popular that the Theatre Royal at Drury Lane mounted their own pantomime. In 1773 the Theatre Royal staged the pantomime that has a direct descendant today – Jack the Giant Killer.

It may sounds obvious now but fairy tales are also a huge influence. French writer Charles Perrault laid the foundations for fairy tales from existing folk tales. He popularised these stories such as Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Bluebeard, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Many of these were then re-written by the Brothers Grimm.

The specific tale of Cinderella has its own history, and I’ll tell you about it next week.

Kevin Shaw
Artistic Director