By Harry Frank
Wimbledon Theatres
The Polka theatre and the new Wimbledon theatre are two theatres in Wimbledon. The Polka is a world class theatre for children, and the new Wimbledon theatre, which is on Broadway, performs pantomimes every year, with huge stars from all over the world on the cast list. This year's pantomime will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Priscilla Presley making her debut as the Wicked Queen.
The pantomime show
Most towns around the United Kingdom still embrace the tradition of pantomimes around Christmas time. "Pantos" as they are often referred to have been around since medieval times. Pantomimes were thought to be a low form of opera in the 1600's and became more popular when the Harlequin was introduced by John Rich in 1717, adding a more comedic and wilder performance. The Pantomime has evolved into a cross between musical hall performances and traditional Italian "Commedia dell' Arte".
Pantomime in other countries
The Polka theatre and the new Wimbledon theatre are two theatres in Wimbledon. The Polka is a world class theatre for children, and the new Wimbledon theatre, which is on Broadway, performs pantomimes every year, with huge stars from all over the world on the cast list. This year's pantomime will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Priscilla Presley making her debut as the Wicked Queen.
The pantomime show
Most towns around the United Kingdom still embrace the tradition of pantomimes around Christmas time. "Pantos" as they are often referred to have been around since medieval times. Pantomimes were thought to be a low form of opera in the 1600's and became more popular when the Harlequin was introduced by John Rich in 1717, adding a more comedic and wilder performance. The Pantomime has evolved into a cross between musical hall performances and traditional Italian "Commedia dell' Arte".
Pantomime in other countries
Countries that have historical roots in the UK, perform pantomimes in the Christmas season, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada with less popularity in America, which is adopting their own American-style pantomimes, and are basically the same as those performed in the UK. One of the most successful pantomimes in America was Humpty Dumpty which ran in New York for over one thousand shows.
Themes
Today's pantomimes are aimed primarily at child audiences and families, and usually have no direct connection with Christmas. Pantomime themes are based on popular nursery rhymes, fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Stories from Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers are also adapted into pantomimes.
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is arguably one of the most popular pantomimes, and its "Panto" version is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. The play was first performed in December 27th 1904 in the Duke of York theatre London. In American, Peter Pan is performed as British-style pantomime and has proved to be popular over the years and still performed today.
Star turns
Most theatres in the United Kingdom will put on a pantomime in the Christmas and new year season. The amount of popularity ensures packed houses and high revenue, which also attracts star names from across the country and abroad, and even though they are extremely popular, some shows will only run for up to six to eight weeks.
Length of run
Cities with well know theatres, like London's west end, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities in the united Kingdom are able to run pantomimes for the length of time that theatres of various sizes did twenty years ago. Unfortunately smaller theatres struggle to sustain such audience figures nowadays.
Cost
Production cost of a pantomime in the early
Themes
Today's pantomimes are aimed primarily at child audiences and families, and usually have no direct connection with Christmas. Pantomime themes are based on popular nursery rhymes, fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Stories from Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers are also adapted into pantomimes.
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is arguably one of the most popular pantomimes, and its "Panto" version is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. The play was first performed in December 27th 1904 in the Duke of York theatre London. In American, Peter Pan is performed as British-style pantomime and has proved to be popular over the years and still performed today.
Star turns
Most theatres in the United Kingdom will put on a pantomime in the Christmas and new year season. The amount of popularity ensures packed houses and high revenue, which also attracts star names from across the country and abroad, and even though they are extremely popular, some shows will only run for up to six to eight weeks.
Length of run
Cities with well know theatres, like London's west end, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities in the united Kingdom are able to run pantomimes for the length of time that theatres of various sizes did twenty years ago. Unfortunately smaller theatres struggle to sustain such audience figures nowadays.
Cost
Production cost of a pantomime in the early
Peter Pan is arguably one of the most popular pantomimes, and its "Panto" version is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. The play was first performed in December 27th 1904 in the Duke of York theatre London. In American, Peter Pan is performed as British-style pantomime and has proved to be popular over the years and still performed today.
Star turns
Most theatres in the United Kingdom will put on a pantomime in the Christmas and new year season. The amount of popularity ensures packed houses and high revenue, which also attracts star names from across the country and abroad, and even though they are extremely popular, some shows will only run for up to six to eight weeks.
Length of run
Cities with well know theatres, like London's west end, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities in the united Kingdom are able to run pantomimes for the length of time that theatres of various sizes did twenty years ago. Unfortunately smaller theatres struggle to sustain such audience figures nowadays.
Cost
Production cost of a pantomime in the early 1800's, London, ran at over a thousand pounds, compared to today with a figure between GBP 150,000, to well over half a million pounds, with star performers commanding between GBP 15,000 and GBP 40,000 in wages a week.
About the Author:
Star turns
Most theatres in the United Kingdom will put on a pantomime in the Christmas and new year season. The amount of popularity ensures packed houses and high revenue, which also attracts star names from across the country and abroad, and even though they are extremely popular, some shows will only run for up to six to eight weeks.
Length of run
Cities with well know theatres, like London's west end, Birmingham, Manchester and other major cities in the united Kingdom are able to run pantomimes for the length of time that theatres of various sizes did twenty years ago. Unfortunately smaller theatres struggle to sustain such audience figures nowadays.
Cost
Production cost of a pantomime in the early 1800's, London, ran at over a thousand pounds, compared to today with a figure between GBP 150,000, to well over half a million pounds, with star performers commanding between GBP 15,000 and GBP 40,000 in wages a week.
About the Author:
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