What do you mean you've never been to a panto? This unique British Christmas institution may be slightly camp and over the top, but it has a fascinating history, background and tradition stemming back hundreds of years - and in Birmingham Hippodrome's case, half a century.
The Hurst Street theatre's 2007/2008 panto, Aladdin, stars Torchwood's John Barrowman - and to coincide with its run (December 19 to January 27), is staging an exhibition celebrating 50 years of dames, principal boys and cries of "he's behind you!", with original posters, programmes and costumes from the shows.
It is located in the Level 1 foyer area, open during performance times and accessible to ticket holders. If you are going to the panto this year, two top tips; rehearse your hisses and boos before you go - and join in; it's the only time of year you're allowed - and encouraged - to shout out in the theatre!
SOUND LIKE A PRO Dame: Usually the hero's mother, such as Widow Twankey in Aladdin or Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk; emerged from the early Victorian Music Halls. Often the Dame's costumes would be used to good comic effect by parodying the fashions of the day, in much the same way as the modern Dame or Ugly Sister does at the moment. Principal Boy: By the middle of the 19th century the vogue for ladies to take on the heroic roles of Jack or Dick Whittington or Aladdin was beginning, and with the rise of Music Hall it became the rule. Victorian male craved the vision of a well turned calf, or shapely ankle. By the 1950s the emergence of men playing the role began with Norman Wisdom, and the influx of pop stars such as (Sir) Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde, a trend that has waned as ladies once again returned to the role, such notables as Barbara Windsor, Cilla Black and Anita Harris taking back the reins. Superstitions: In pantomime it is tradition that the Fairy always enters from the right (Stage Right) and the Demon from the left (Stage Left). It has been said that, in older theatres, the stage trap through which the Demon rose was generally located on the left side of the stage, but the tradition of Left as the 'Sinister' side and Right as the 'Good' side can be found in other superstitions. In a Pantomime the last lines said in the finale, traditionally in rhyming couplets should never be spoken in rehearsal, but for the first time on the opening night. Several artists have got so used to NOT saying them, that they have 'dried', that is, forgotten to utter them in performance! Whistling in a dressing room is a bad omen. The person caught doing this is made to leave the room, turn around three times, knock and re-enter, usually uttering a curse. With thanks to www.its-behind-you.com
