IT’S BEHIND YOU...

stories, retaining the popular enticed famous variety artists as ponydance creating their own Mummers elements and adding into his shows, a key element in shows, as well as impressively stock clown characters, dance, pantomime’s survival. Even so, slick choreography in many I ’S EHI D YO . . acrobatics, slapstick, audience it began to fall out of fashion of the big pantomimes and, of T B N U . participation and topical humour. towards the end of the 20th course, Strictly sightings galore. In the 19th century, European century, and it took clever script After two years with partner- Marianka Swain explores the development of fairy stories and children’s updating, an injection of showbiz in-crime , pantomime and rounds up the best of the festive season classics were mined, and glitz and imaginative stunt casting this Christmas Craig Revel YOU pantomimes based on those to bring about its recent revival. Horwood pairs up with I ND .. he quintessentially English Ages. The Mummers performed subversive gender role reversal. tales remain most popular today. There’s also more to interest new muse , as he T I . pantomime actually has its shows during community In the 18th century, influenced The tradition of celebrity guest dance fans in the latest crop of continues to reign supreme over ’S H T origins in Ancient Greece, gatherings, entertaining with by the Commedia dell’Arte, stars also dates back to the 19th pantos, from featured artists like pantoland. (Oh, yes he does!) E century, when Theatre Royal Drury street crew Flawless to comedic Enjoy our guide to the B but its archetypal characteristics raucous stage fights, coarse London theatres developed were cemented in the Middle humour, fantastical creatures and shows inspired by classical Lane proprietor Augustus Harris dance-theatre companies such season’s top tickets… l

www.birmingham ALADDIN, NEW WIMBLEDON BEST CLASSIC PANTOS hippodrome.com THEATRE, LONDON BEST STRICTLY PANTOS December 6 – January 12 JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, LYRIC THEATRE, LONDON November 23 –January 4 Playwright Tom Wells’ witty take on a traditional tale includes a sprinkling of Zumba. www.lyric.co.uk

PETER PAN, LIVERPOOL EMPIRE December 13 – January 5 Joining Matthew Kelly and Former Junior ballroom champ Jo Brand, street dance crew and Dancing on Ice winner Ray Flawless (all pictured above) Quinn heads the billing as the boy bring their innovative approach who never grows up. to a traditional tale. www.atgtickets.com/shows/ www.atgtickets.com/shows/ Gok Wan as the Man in the Mirror, Stephanie peter-pan/liverpool-empire aladdin-wimbledon/new- Beacham as the Queen and wimbledon-theatre as the Prince in Birmingham’s Snow White DICK WHITTINGTON, OPERA HOUSE, CINDERELLA, BRISTOL HIPPODROME Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood is the Wicked December 6 – January 5 December 6 – January 5 Queen in Southend-on-Sea’s Snow White PETER PAN, RICHMOND SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, The classic rags-to-riches Louie “camp as Christmas” THEATRE, LONDON tale features (appropriately Spence shares his irrepressible December 6 – January 12 December 19 – February 2 enough) Britain’s Got Talent’s toe-tapping in a packed The Fonz as Captain Hook? John Partridge, Gok Wan, Ashleigh and Pudsey and I’d production that also features SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, villainous Craig Revel Horwood Happy days indeed. Henry and short- Do Anything’s . real Shetland ponies. CLIFFS PAVILION, SOUTHEND-ON-SEA feature as lady’s maid and – Winkler stars in this family- lived Strictly contestant www.atgtickets.com/shows/ www.atgtickets.com/ December 13 – January 4 what else – the wicked queen friendly show. Stephanie Beacham feature dick-whittington/opera-house- shows/cinderella/bristol- Last year’s contestant Lisa in this a-maze-ing show. http://tinyurl.com/kawopj2 in a monumental production. manchester hippodrome Riley and the fabulously www.southendtheatres.org.uk ➤

26 \ WWW.DANCE-TODAY.CO.UK Photograph © Simon Hadley Photograph (above) © Craig Sugden DECEMBER 2013 \ DANCE TODAY 27 IT’S BEHIND YOU...

“AFTER TWO YEARS WITH PARTNER-IN-CRIME BEST ALTERNATIVE PANTOS ANN WIDDECOMBE, THIS CHRISTMAS CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD PAIRS UP WITH NEW MUSE LISA RILEY, AS HE CONTINUES TO REIGN SUPREME OVER PANTOLAND”

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, NEW THEATRE, December 14 – January 19 Popular Strictly finalist Julian Clary stars as the Spirit of the Beans in this family spectacular. (No mention of maracas, sadly.) www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

CINDERELLA, THE SPA, BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE Pony Panto December 12 – January 1 2008 pro champion Camilla Dallerup helps someone else PONY PANTO, become belle of the ball as she DEPTFORD AND IRELAND www.theticketfactory. plays the Fairy Godmother. December 5–22 com/ppt www.thespabridlington.com/ The brilliantly irreverent cinderella comedic dance-theatre POTTED PANTO, VAUDEVILLE company bring their witty THEATRE, LONDON PETER PAN, ST HELENS THEATRE take on the Christmas office December 8 – January 5 ROYAL, MERSEYSIDE party to the MAC Belfast, Can’t decide which panto December 6 – January 12 Project Arts Centre Dublin to see? Here’s the perfect Former pro Brian Fortuna takes and the Albany in Deptford. solution: seven classics in just the title role in a show full of www.ponydance.com 80 minutes, with plenty of glitz and glam. slapstick fun along the way. www.sthelenstheatre PETER PAN: THE NEVER ENDING http://tinyurl.com/ox4lnbh royal.com STORY, NATIONAL ARENA TOUR December 13 – January 16 COCK ROBIN AND HIS VERY SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, The high-flying, hi-tech MERRY MEN, BRIGHTON DOME LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, KETTERING extravaganza, playing at January 21 – February 4 December 11 – January 5 Birmingham, Nottingham, For a more adult experience, Fan favourite Russell Grant Leeds, Manchester and this X-rated festival favourite brings his joyful pizzazz to the Wembley Arena, features offers a wonderfully naughty apt role of Astrologer Royal. aerial acrobats and a Peter take on a familiar tale. www.lighthousetheatre.co.uk Pan flying without wires. www.brightondome.org

28 \ WWW.DANCE-TODAY.CO.UK Photograph courtesy of ponydance