{"id":3458,"date":"2022-12-12T09:30:35","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T09:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=3458"},"modified":"2022-12-08T13:52:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:52:07","slug":"its-behind-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2022\/12\/12\/its-behind-you\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s Behind You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the festive season gets underway we take a look at a most unique British art form, The Pantomime (oh no we don\u2019t!)<\/p>\n

The pantomime began its golden age in the nineteenth century, but its origins can be traced back to the Italian tradition known as \u2018Commedia dell\u2019 Arte\u2019, a type of travelling street theatre. The Italian Commedia was brought to the London stage by John Weaver (1702) at Drury Lane Theatre and developed by John Rich at Lincoln\u2019s Inn Fields. During the nineteenth century, pantomime was further influenced by the sauciness of Victorian burlesque and the energy of music hall. Today pantomimes are still much loved, and stars often come from television soap operas and reality shows.<\/p>\n

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Our collections contain many records of local pantomimes, including posters and photographs. Our first is a poster for a 1975 production of Babes in the Wood<\/a> at the Bournemouth Playhouse, starring Dora Bryan, Norman Vaughan and Billy Burden. The Bournemouth Playhouse (now known by its original name The Palace Court Theatre), is currently being refurbishment by Arts University Bournemouth to bring the 400 seater playhouse back into use for students and the wider creative community.<\/p>\n

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Babes in the Wood was also the pantomime of choice for The Ritz in Weymouth in 1957, as photographed by Graham Herbert<\/a>. \u2018Babes in The Wood\u2019 is based on a sixteenth Century English ballad called \u2018The Children In The Wood: or, the Norfolk Gentleman\u2019s Last Will and Testament\u2019.<\/p>\n

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First appearing on stage in 1793, it was adapted in 1827 as \u2018Harlequin and Robin Cooke; or the Babes in the Wood\u2019. The mischievous Harlequin character comes from the Italian \u2018Commedia dell\u2019 Arte\u2019 and he often appears in early pantomimes. The original Babes in the Woods story had a sad ending with the children dying. In 1867 a new version of the story saw Robin Hood introduced as the hero who rescues the abandoned orphans, with the villain, the wicked Uncle, being found out. A happy ending is part of today\u2019s pantomime experience!<\/p>\n

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