Changes

* More recent well-known stories, eg ''[[Peter Pan]]''.

* More recent well-known stories, eg ''[[Peter Pan]]''.

It is less common but not unknown for pantomime productions to adapt a story that is not traditionally used as a pantomime. For example, the Cambridge Footlights theater troupe has recently staged pantomime adaptations of ''[[Spartacus]]'' and ''Faust''<ref>[http://footlights.org/pantomime.html Cambridge Footlights Pantomime]</ref>. Even in these instances, the story chosen must be one that will be familiar to audiences.

It is less common but not unknown for pantomime productions to adapt a story that is not traditionally used as a pantomime. For example, the Cambridge Footlights theater troupe has recently staged pantomime adaptations of ''[[Spartacus]]'' and ''Faust''.<ref>[http://footlights.org/pantomime.html Cambridge Footlights Pantomime]</ref> Even in these instances, the story chosen must be one that will be familiar to audiences.

All pantomime plots unfold along similar lines, mainly based around the interactions of the characters described below. Other essentials are that the story must involve conflict between [[good and evil]], and that it must end happily, with the villain defeated and the hero marrying his sweetheart, and the other good characters finding happiness in one form or another. If a story does not have a happy ending, or does not feature the required character types, it will need to be adapted to include these elements if it is to be performed as a pantomime.

All pantomime plots unfold along similar lines, mainly based around the interactions of the characters described below. Other essentials are that the story must involve conflict between [[good and evil]], and that it must end happily, with the villain defeated and the hero marrying his sweetheart, and the other good characters finding happiness in one form or another. If a story does not have a happy ending, or does not feature the required character types, it will need to be adapted to include these elements if it is to be performed as a pantomime.

==Origins==

==Origins==

As a traditional form of theater, pantomime's conventions are not formalized, but have grown up organically over hundreds of years by drawing on various different influences. Two of the most recognizeable are [[Italian]] [[Commedia dell'arte]], a stylized theater form that provides the templates for many of the stock characters (the word 'pantomime' comes from Pantalone, one such character<ref> [http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/commedia_dell_arte_001.html The Commedia dell'Arte]</ref>); and English [[music hall]], which supplies much of the bawdy humor and audience participation.

As a traditional form of theater, pantomime's conventions are not formalized, but have grown up organically over hundreds of years by drawing on various different influences. Two of the most recognizeable are [[Italian]] [[Commedia dell'arte]], a stylized theater form that provides the templates for many of the stock characters (the word 'pantomime' comes from Pantalone, one such character<ref>[http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/commedia_dell_arte_001.html The Commedia dell'Arte]</ref>); and English [[music hall]], which supplies much of the bawdy humor and audience participation.

On a more general level, the simplified conflict between [[good and evil]] could be traced back to [[medieval]] [[morality play]]s (which also used to be performed at major festivals), while the portrayal of grotesque stereotypes and undermining of dignified or would-be dignified figures have a certain kinship with the works of ancient [[Greek]] playwrights such as [[Aristophanes]] and their successors.

On a more general level, the simplified conflict between [[good and evil]] could be traced back to [[medieval]] [[morality play]]s (which also used to be performed at major festivals), while the portrayal of grotesque stereotypes and undermining of dignified or would-be dignified figures have a certain kinship with the works of ancient [[Greek]] playwrights such as [[Aristophanes]] and their successors.