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[[Image:DamePerrieWinkle.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A traditional pantomime dame (Pic: Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society)]]
'''Pantomime''' (or 'panto' for short) is a traditional form of [[theater]] that is popular in the [[United Kingdom]] at [[Christmas]] time. All pantomimes share certain features, including a matronly 'dame' character played by a man in [[cross-dressing|drag]], an exaggeratedly evil but incompetent [[villain]], a final [[wedding]] scene, audience participation, songs and earthy [[humor]]. Most pantomimes use a traditional plot (often a [[fairy tale]]), such as ''[[Cinderella]]'', ''[[Dick Whittington]]'' or ''[[Aladdin]]'', but almost any well-known story can be adapted into a recognisable pantomime by incorporating the characteristic features of the form.
'''Pantomime''' (or 'panto' for short) is a traditional form of [[theater]] that is popular in the [[United Kingdom]] at [[Christmas]] time. All pantomimes share certain features, including a matronly 'dame' character played by a man in [[cross-dressing|drag]], an exaggeratedly evil but incompetent [[villain]], a final [[wedding]] scene, audience participation, songs and earthy [[humor]]. Most pantomimes use a traditional plot (often a [[fairy tale]]), such as ''[[Cinderella]]'', ''[[Dick Whittington]]'' or ''[[Aladdin]]'', but almost any well-known story can be adapted into a recognisable pantomime by incorporating the characteristic features of the form.
===Example casts===
===Example casts===
Below are two examples of how the [[stock character]]s listed above are cast in specific stories:
Below are two examples of how the [[stock character]]s listed above are cast in specific stories:
[[Image:Ian Watkins as Buttons.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Buttons, the buffoon from ''Cinderella'' (Pic: Lancashire Evening Post)]]
====Dick Whittington====
====Dick Whittington====
*Protagonist - Dick Whittington (traditionally played by a woman)
*Protagonist - Dick Whittington (traditionally played by a woman)
*Villain - King [[Rat]]
*Villain - King [[Rat]]
*Good fairy - Good fairy
*Good fairy - Good fairy
====Cinderella====
====Cinderella====
*Protagonists - Cinderella, Prince Charming and Dan Deany (all often played by women)
*Protagonists - Cinderella, Prince Charming and Dan Deany (all often played by women)
==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.
[[Image:BrianBlessedPanto.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A poster advertising a production of ''Aladdin'', featuring children's TV presenter Kirsten O'Brien and respected actor Brian Blessed (Pic: John Hartnup)]]
==Present day==
==Present day==
Although pantomime is a traditional theater form, it has not become '[[fossil]]ized', and adapts to suit the needs of modern audiences. Most obviously, professional pantomimes recruit local and national [[celebrities]] to help pull in crowds. These are often [[soap opera]] actors, singers, or [[television]] and [[radio]] personalities. Sometimes people who have been very famous, or 'serious' actors, see pantomime as a humbling sign of a career on the wane, but many others enjoy the work for its own sake - Sir [[Ian McKellan]] is a good example of an actor who chose to take part in pantomime when he had never been more sought-after in serious [[film]] and theater.
Although pantomime is a traditional theater form, it has not become '[[fossil]]ized', and adapts to suit the needs of modern audiences. Most obviously, professional pantomimes recruit local and national [[celebrities]] to help pull in crowds. These are often [[soap opera]] actors, singers, or [[television]] and [[radio]] personalities. Sometimes people who have been very famous, or 'serious' actors, see pantomime as a humbling sign of a career on the wane, but many others enjoy the work for its own sake - Sir [[Ian McKellan]] is a good example of an actor who chose to take part in pantomime when he had never been more sought-after in serious [[film]] and theater.
As well as the cast, modern pantomimes often include topical [[joke]]s and references to modern technology, revelling in the anachronism of, say, a [[motorbike]] appearing in a pre-[[industrial revolution|industrial]] English village.
As well as the cast, modern pantomimes often include topical [[joke]]s and references to modern technology, revelling in the anachronism of, say, a [[motorbike]] appearing in a pre-[[industrial revolution|industrial]] English village.
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.its-behind-you.com/ It's Behind You.com]
*[http://www.its-behind-you.com/ It's Behind You.com]