It's behind you!!!!

So what do you do once the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over? Well of course you take your family to see a panto (but hurry most will be finishing over the next week or so)

For those who don't know, a panto (short for pantomime) is one of Britain's great theatrical traditions. Oh yes it is!  It's a comedy, musical production based around a traditional children's fairy tale (Snow White, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and his cat, Jack and the Beanstalk etc.)

Its old-fashioned and comfy like a pair of slippers. You know the formula, you know exactly what's going to happen but if its been well written you'll have a giggle at the jokes about politicians and your neighbourhood, and the year's big news stories.

The elements of a pantomime:-

• Be prepared to be an active audience. You will booooo and hiss (very loudly) everytime the baddie walks onto the stage. (and he always enters the stage from the left)
• There will be a man dressed as an older woman in wonderful over the top costume (she's called the Dame)
• The male romantic lead is always played by a woman wearing tights, hotpants and over-the-knee boots.
• The good fairy always enters from the right hand side and disappears with a puff of smoke.
• Prepare to sing-a-long and even compete with the other side of the audience.
• The jokes are very dirty (ooo-errr misssus)  but manage to completely go over the heads of children.
• The "It's behind you!" part of panto is loved by all the children in the audience who scream so loudly whenever the bad bear is creeps up behind the lead characters.

When is the last time you saw a panto? If its been too long, or you're too baah humbug cool, or heaven's forbid you've never been.. GO!