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1940's and pantomime

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:33:21 GMT

clipped by: valann 47

The 1940's and Pantomime

Wartime Britain, and the period after the war ended in 1945, produced some of the most difficult times for theatre and pantomime. In the early days of the war in 1940 it looked as if all places of public entertainment would be closed indefinitely, and one by one the country’s theatres opened their doors, and the world of pantomime existed as a glittering escape from the streets ravaged by nightly air raids and austere conditions at home and abroad.

It was an era of great producers and performers. They had survived the onslaught of the cinema, and, in these pre-television days, drew from the popular radio shows and variety shows to provide some of the greatest pantomime stars.

Tags: theatre, panto, nostalgia

Police cast as Villains in Panto Pow

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:51:22 GMT

clipped by: book-mole

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

An amateur dramatics group staging a pantomime version of Pirates of the Caribbean in Carnon Downs, Cornwall, has been told by police to keep two plastic swords and a pop-gun under lock and key whenever the props are not being used on stage. Elaine Gummow, the co-director, said that to satisfy health and safety regulations she had to inform the local constabulary if she planned to move the offending items. She added: “It all seems a bit ridiculous – we had to tell police we had ‘no malicious intent’. There are heavier things on stage that can cause injury than plastic swords.”

Hurling sweets at panto 'too risky for children'

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:34:38 GMT

clipped by: mickfinn

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Panto stars have been banned from throwing sweets into the audience in case children get hit on the head

Organisers of the Babes in the Woods and Robin Hood production at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, fear they will be sued for negligence if youngsters are hit in the face by a stray chocolate

The theatre is not covered by insurance for any injuries from sweets thrown by the pantomime dame, Mark Hudson.

Confectionery will now be dropped into the front row and passed around by ushers, ending the tradition of children catching the treats

The show's director, Helen McDermott, said the ban was another example of the health and safety culture gone mad

"Throwing sweets into the crowd is one of the great traditional parts of pantomimes and children have enjoyed it for years,"

theatre director, Kevin Lynch, said it was a sad fact of life that people were being encouraged to sue

Association of British Insurers

said

rare for a company to tell a pantomime to stop throwing sweets

Tags: tosh

How to have an alternative and cool Christmas

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:19:05 GMT

clipped by: Lifes First Beat

Clip Source: arts.independent.co.uk

A feast of artistic alternatives for a stimulating Yuletide

Will yet another 'Nutcracker' drive you nuts? Or do you think that panto is pants?

THEATRE

The Family Plays, Royal Court Theatre, London

Office Party Xmas 2007, The Pit, Barbican, London

FILM

I'm Not There, nationwide

Lust, Caution and Q&A with Ang Lee, Picturehouse Cinemas

Anthony McCall, Serpentine Gallery, London

Turner Prize 2007, Tate Liverpool

Tags: christmas

Time travel star's bumpy ride to city

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:12:07 GMT

clipped by: the-tardis

Clip Source: icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk

Time travel star's bumpy ride to city

HE may be a time traveller in Dr Who, but jet travel didn't suit John Barrowman as he headed for Birmingham Hippodrome to launch this year's Christmas pantomime.

John, who is best know as the time-travelling conman Capt Jack Harkness in both Dr Who and Torchwood series, joined forces with other cast members including Banzai's Masashi Fujimoto and The Grumbleweeds yesterday.

But John, who will take the lead role of Aladdin in the panto, held up the launch by an hour because he was feeling poorly after a supersonic flight.

"I am so sorry to be late," he said. "I was flying in a Hawker fighter jet to launch the RAF Tattoo and we were doing 360¼ turns and loop the loop.

Aladdin plays Birmingham Hippodrome from December 19-January 27, contact 0870 730 1234 or see www.birminghamhippodrome.com for ticket details.

Tags: doctor who, doctor-who, dr who, drwho, torchwood

Panto season, Brokeback mountain

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 11:15:40 GMT

clipped by: bilbo

Clip Source: www.b3ta.com

Tags: brockback mountain, pantomime