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English Christmas Pantomime: Theatre or Community Activism
Pete Reader
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2016.07.011
Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA
How is English Christmas panto community activism? The structure of pantomime has not changed in a hundred years, but allows for local creativity to work within its framework to be both family entertainment and social satire. This basic structure is founded on a children’s story like Puss’n’boots or Cinderella. The story and character types remain the same; but the community can add their own jokes and commentary to make the play relevant to themselves and their community. What is added by the community says a lot about who they are and what they care about. The company Price-Waterhouse-Coopers produces their pantomime as management training and team building while engaging the community. The Basel Swiss panto raises money for African Charities. The Maplewood, NJ panto raises money for the homeless and the Jaguar Charity panto in Birmingham performs to disadvantaged children and adults. The productions can be extravagant or threadbare, but share the same goal of raising cheer and goodwill to the benefit of the community. What is it, then, about panto that brings a community together in such civic mindedness?
English Christmas pantomine, community engagement, theatre, activism
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