This site is dedicated to those who strive to keep alive

The Magic of Pantomime

- a unique British entertainment that takes place in theatres

across the United Kingdom during the Christmas season, and beyond.

 

SHAW COULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN IT: The Oliviers couldn't act it., Gigli couldn't sing it, and Fonteyn couldn't dance it.

It's pantomime. It happens - once a year all over Britain. And there's no other art form quite like it

From a 1946 Article

 

 

2020/2021

Here We Go Again!

 

 

David Morton

 

Nigel Ellacott's

45 Years of Panto 

 

Recently Updated
V&A Story of Pantomime

IBY YouTube Channel

 

 

The 12 Days of Lockdown

 

Tea and Talks with Owen Smith - Nigel Ellacott

 

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We are very grateful to Qdos for sponsoring

and supporting the site since it was created in 2000.      

 

'..the ten thousand million delights of a pantomime...come streaming upon us now.. I was brought up from remote country parks in the dark ages of 1819-20 to behold the splendour of Christmas Pantomime and the humour of the great Grimaldi.. in whose honour I am informed I clapped my hands with great precocity'. CHARLES DICKENS

 

 

 

PETER ROBBINS

31st March 1953 - 15th April 2009

Tribute Page

Ever wondered what the origins of the pantomime stories were, well now we can help. Information about the origins, along with character names, scenery pictures and costume designs.

 

A useful resource for scriptwriters!

Dorothy Ward

Site Created by David Hartshorne and now housed within It's Behind You Dot Com 

All the information you could ever require about Nigel and Peter.

 

Also features a Scrapbook

Was your Great Auntie on the halls? Did your Grandpa play Abanazar at Attercliffe? Want to find out?

The Stage has now closed its Archive and moved everything to the British Newspaper Archive which is part of The British Library. There are a number of options for subscription and you need to search for 'The Stage'

You can find it at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

As featured on

 

Three things are required at Christmas time;

Plum Pudding, Beef and Pantomime; 

Folks could resist the former two;

Without the latter none could do. 

(From an old Pantomime playbill)