Junior SCHOOLS All about pantomime All about pantomime Q&A with Joel Horwood DID YOU The writer Joel Horwood KNOW? has created a new Oh no it isn’t, oh yes it is! Many famous actors have Pantomime season is here, with played pantomime dames, pantomime version of costumes, songs and jokes galore. including Ian McKellen, Jack and the Beanstalk, HA, HA! whom you may know as currently showing at Where did it all begin? Gandalf in the Lord of the the Lyric theatre in There is a joke that features Hammersmith, London. his Christmas, you might be lucky enough to be in the pantomime at the Rings films. He tells us why he loves pantomime so much. Tgoing to a pantomime. The dramatic storylines, Lyric Theatre every year. bright scenery and costumes, along with lots of The Dame says, “Drumroll, When did you first see a pantomime? singing and dancing, mean that pantomimes are please”, and a drum rolls My first pantomime was when I was very loved by people of all ages. There are well-known onto the stage. little. It was in the local sports centre, in the jokes and if you’ve been to a pantomime before, hall. I remember the sense of craziness, the you’ll be expecting them. You will probably also get feeling that for as long as the show was to join in with the rest of the audience, shouting, “It’s going on, anything could happen. behind you!” or, “Oh no, it isn’t!” We now think of Ian McKellen as pantomime as a traditional part of Christmas, and a pantomime What do you think makes going to the pantomime during the festive season is dame. a good pantomime? the first time many of us experience the pleasure and The story has to be clear. I feel excitement of watching a live performance. However, like it gives everyone something did you know that pantomime actually originated in to cling onto as the silliness Europe, hundreds of years ago? really takes off.

Once upon a time… Why do you think people enjoy them? A good panto is all about the audience who watches it. Pantomimes are an interactive experience. If you shout out, Fleshcreep from then the actors should be able Jack and the to react to what you do or say. Beanstalk.

Do you have a favourite moment The Ugly Sisters in Jack and the Beanstalk? from Cinderella. In the original story, I love the part where the goodies are sneaking around and trying not to wake the Giant. The audience watching Fairy tales The characters The greatest clown of all could give them away at any moment. Many pantomimes are based on In early pantomimes, there was Joseph Grimaldi was a Joseph Does making a good pantomime The story of pantomime can be traced back to the famous fairy tales, such as Jack usually a mischievous character very popular English Grimaldi involve lots of different people? 16th century in Italy and France, when small and the Beanstalk, Cinderella or called Harlequin who wore a mask; entertainer in the early Absolutely, it’s not just the writer and actors. groups of travelling actors performed improvised Aladdin. In pantomimes, good his accomplice the clown Pierrot; 19th century, who The designers – who decide on the set and dramas in marketplaces and fairgrounds. An usually triumphs over evil. The and the love interest, Columbine. would play the clown in costume, light and sound – play a part in improvised drama is one that has not been written world can often seem topsy-turvy Today, there are often lots of pantomimes. The kind bringing the world and comedy to life, and by a writer but is made up by the actors as they go at the beginning of a pantomime, different characters but these of make-up he wore – a the directors shape the audience experience. along. The actors were able to do this because the but by the end of the story, the generally include young lovers, a painted white face with stories and characters in them were often familiar, good people are usually rewarded villain and sometimes two people pink cheeks, curved although the performers could make up the and the bad people are punished. dressed up as a horse. One eyebrows and a bright Faith Omole characters’ words and actions. Both the audience character who really stands out is red mouth – is still used as Jack. and actors would expect the characters to behave the pantomime dame. This is in pantomimes today.

in certain often funny ways and the dramas to REX SHUTTERSTOCK usually a man dressed up as a Grimaldi’s catchphrases have particular endings. Groups of actors brought woman in a bright wig and were, “Here we are these dramas to England around 1650 and soon, ALAMY · clown-like make-up. The lead again!” and “Shall I?” similar comic characters were appearing in English character in a pantomime is often – to which his audience A poster of Cinderella plays. These became the first pantomimes. a woman dressed as a man. For would roar, “Yes!” from 1875 (left) and During the Victorian era, pantomimes usually a production of · TRISTRAM KENTON example, Faith Omole is playing Today, clowns are opened on Boxing Day and they have been Aladdin from 1950. Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk at the sometimes called associated with the Christmas period ever since. Lyric theatre, Hammersmith. Joeys, after him. GERAINT LEWIS · ©THE WEEK JUNIOR, DENNIS PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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