The festive pantomime is a rather curious form of ritual theatre entertainment performed around the winter solstice. Strangeley, given its current form, it was originally silent (mime) but these days there's always much noise from both the performers and the audience.
The plots are usually well-known, and panto's are populated with stock characters: the principal boy, (played by a young lady with shapely legs), the heroine, (also a young lady), someone evil everyone can boo at, and the dame, (played by a man), who everyone can laugh at. Scripts change, but generally the format of the humour remains the same - slapstick, topical, corny and rude.
This year the Stamford Corn Exchange theatre is putting on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which will be traditional pantomime but with a chorus and dancers as well. It's the familiar story : Snow White is on the run from her wicked stepmother, finds shelter in a small forest cottage with seven pint-sized men and they instantly decide to adopt her and protect her with their lives. You'll need to book tickets early to avoid disappointment… find out more here
Other local pantomimes include versions of Dick Whittington and his Cat at Peterborough's Key Theatre, Grantham's Guildhall Arts Centre, and Cambridge Arts Theatre. The Cresset is performing Beauty and the Beast (with various TV stars) whilst Stamford Arts Centre has a one day production of Aladdin. There's also a one day panto at Rutland Museum in Oakham, this time it's Robin Hood on December 12th.
I hope many families will be enjoying the Corn Exchange Theatre performance - let us know what you think about it.
