The word pantomime was
adopted from the Latin word pantomimus
, which in turn derives from the Greek word παντόμιμος (pantomimos), consisting of παντο- (panto-) meaning “all”, and μῖμος (mimos), meaning a dancer who acted all the roles or all the story.
Where does the term pantomime come from?
Pantomime has its
roots in ‘Commedia dell’Arte’, a 16th-century Italian entertainment
which used dance, music, tumbling, acrobatics and featured a cast of mischievous stock characters. Harlequin was the quick-witted miscreant who carried a magic bat, wore a mask and dressed in clothes made of patches.
What was pantomime originally called?
Known as
Harlequinades
, Rich’s plays were an early form of pantomime.
Who created pantomime?
John Rich
, actor-manager of the Lincoln’s Inn Theatre (opened 1714) and The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (opened 1732), was known as the ‘father of pantomime’ because he was the first to realise the potential of the Commedia characters.
What does its behind you mean panto?
The pantomime is a traditional Christmas show in England, it is usually based around a well-known fairy tale and is very funny. … In the panto there is lots of jokes and the line ‘
he’s behind you
‘ is famous as there is always a scene in a panto where someone is looking for something and it is always behind them.
What are the 5 rules of pantomime?
- Make the scene clear. Rule 1.
- Exaggerate facial expressions. Rule 2.
- Keep each motion precise. Rule 3.
- Keep scenes entertaining. Rule 4.
- Don’t Talk!!!! Rule 5.
What is the most popular pantomime?
What is
Cinderella
? Cinderella is one of the most well-known pantomimes in the world and is based on a traditional fairytale of the ‘rags to riches’ story of an orphaned girl living with her stepmother and evil stepsisters.
Are pantomimes only at Christmas?
Pantomimes
take place around the Christmas period
and are nearly always based on well known children’s stories such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty etc. Pantomimes are performed not only in the best theatres in the land but also in village halls throughout Britain.
What is the purpose of pantomime?
More commonly referred to as ‘Panto’, this theatrical form is passionately devoted to its audience. The sole purpose of Pantos is
to make you laugh, dance and sing your heart out
. And they deliver. Pantomimes are indeed deeply rooted into British culture, appearing for the first time in the 17
th
century.
What does panto mean in Greek?
The word pantomime was adopted from the Latin word pantomimus, which in turn derives from the Greek word παντόμιμος (pantomimos), consisting of παντο- (panto-) meaning
“all”
, and μῖμος (mimos), meaning a dancer who acted all the roles or all the story.
Why are pantomimes at Christmas?
But pantomime really began as an entertainment for adults. It can be traced back to
the ancient Roman ‘Saturnalia’ midwinter feast
, at which everything was supposed to be turned upside-down. Men dressed up as women and women as men.
What does pantomime mean in the UK?
In the UK a Pantomime, or “Panto” as it is usually affectionately called, is
a form of interactive theatre, performed around the Christmas season for the entertainment of millions of families
. Many of the stories are based on popular, even if slightly skewed, Fairy Tales.
Do they have pantomimes in France?
The important periods of popularity for pantomime in France fall
within the limits of the 19th century
but like most phases of French culture, this art in its turn goes back to ancient Greece and Rome for its sources.
Which side of the stage does the villain enter?
So where do pantomime villains come from? In a literal sense, always
from stage left
(or the right-hand side of the proscenium from the audience’s perspective).
Why do panto villains enter stage left?
The Demon King was the bad guy, the principal antagonist. By tradition he always appeared stage left,
because left (sinistra in Italian) is traditionally associated with the devil
. … This tradition goes back to medieval mystery plays where the left hand side of the rudimentary stage symbolized hell and the right, heaven.
What characters are in a pantomime?
- Principal Boy.
- Principal Girl.
- The Villain.
- Good/Bad Fairy.
- Comedy characters.
- Panto animal.
- Slapstick scene.
- Singalong (involving audience)
