D id you know that, in the next few weeks, there will be a number of student pantomimes on the calendar? In light of this uplifting news, I would like to share my experience with pantomimes and my opinion on what makes a top-tier pantomime production. 

My father works as a pianist and musical director, which means I have been dragged around the country throughout my life to watch numerous pantomimes across the Christmas season. Some were fabulously enjoyable, full of laughter and spectacle, and others were, between you and me, a bit naff. But what separates the wheat from the chaff?

“A pantomime needs to surprise, enthral and immerse people from all walks of life into a realm of excitement”

Every good pantomime needs at least a sprinkle of creative imagination in the story line or character dialogue. A vast majority of pantomimes retell well-known stories and myths in a light-hearted and fun manner. Yet each production runs the risk of becoming a recreation of what can be watched on TV or read throughout the year. I recall one year watching a production of Aladdin which was relocated from its original Middle Eastern setting to the bustling streets of Medieval Beijing. Thanks to this creative decision, those behind the scenes were able to explore this new setting and place the story of Aladdin within it, without leaving any of the fun, humour, or colour behind. This show took its audience to a whole new world, and this is exactly what Pantomime is meant to do. It must surprise, enthral, and immerse people from all walks of life into a realm of excitement.

Costumes, lighting, and props can be brilliant tools to draw in an audience, and the more ridiculous and camp the better! Why not embezzle the comic-relief fairy godmother with over-the-top blush and sparkling garments? If there’s a cave, why not decorate it with a menacing, scarlet dragon? The possibilities are endless! And, considering the limited budget unfortunately allocated to the arts nowadays, eccentric decorations can be sufficiently compensated with wacky makeup and costume choices, which make it impossible for the audience to not laugh along with the slapstick of the characters that don them.

The true brilliance of the pantomime, of course, lies in its ability to leave both children and adults in fits of laughter. Even though children and adults typically have vastly different senses of humour, it is crucial for a pantomime’s writers to maintain a perfect balance between both. I saw the previously mentioned production of Aladdin in Llandudno, Wales, and the retired Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas starred as the Genie. Throughout the show, he made numerous witty, tongue-in-cheek references to his former career and his homosexuality, which were appreciated by the more mature members of the audience.

“Writers must also never lose sight of panto’s foundational role as a dazzling spectacle that can be enjoyed by children”

Though this show navigated the inevitable risk of a bored adult audience with stellar success, writers must never lose sight of panto’s foundational role as a dazzling spectacle that can be enjoyed by children. After all, the pantomime is one of the greatest ways of passing the art of British banter down to our youngest generations. You can tell if a show has failed to find a perfect comedic balance if you hear that phrase ‘you’ll know when you’re older’ whispered among the rows every time a joke is made. The humour of the pantomime comes best with a large, relentless and in-your-face presence that can be embraced by everyone. Therefore, even though it may become tedious for us adults, the cliché ploys to encourage the children to yell ‘he’s behind you!’ or to boo and jeer at the cheesy flamboyant villain should not be excluded from a successful show.

Fortunately, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, the pantomime has not gone anywhere. We can still love and enjoy this Christmassy fusion of banter, glitz, subtle crudeness, and fun for all. So, when the curtain is lifted for the holiday season, what’s stopping you from making your escape to the fantastically unique world of the panto? Its bright and bashful stories, characters and jokes will be as close as ever.