In one week, our iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime returns to City Varieties Music Hall – packed, as usual, with rock bangers and unbelievable talent. As our very own Aladdin gets ready to rub the lamp again, we’re looking back at the history of the show here in Leeds.
Content note: Archival material referenced features outdated cultural depictions and harmful stereotypes. These stereotypes were wrong at the time, and remain wrong today. As we continue to strive to educate and inspire future generations, we want to depict our history honestly and welcome conversations that spark change.
Written by Aaron Cawood
Finding the magic
The history of Aladdin, his genie, and three fateful wishes is a complex thing. Long before the familiar and beloved animated film you may be thinking of, the story found its origins centuries earlier as part of a folklore collection called One Thousand and One Nights, often known by its English title; The Arabian Nights. It was actually a later-addendum to the collection, made by a French writer – though sources and stories from the diary of that same writer suggest the creation of the Aladdin story was, in fact, a transcription of a story he was told by a Syrian storyteller.
By nature of translation over the ensuing centuries, there are countless variations of the Aladdin story. In most though, multiple details remain true; Aladdin is tempted by a mysterious magical man to enter a tomb, or cave, or labyrinth. Once he is double-crossed and trapped there, Aladdin finds a lamp. Upon rubbing that lamp, Aladdin meets a genie who not only saves him from his entrapment, but who grants him the life he has always wanted. The mysterious magical man from earlier returns in an attempt to reclaim the all-powerful lamp, but is inevitably thwarted in the end. Despite the most famous retellings, the traditional story of Aladdin is most often set in China – and history has seen the tale transplanted to countless other locales, fictional or otherwise.
It wouldn’t be until 1788 that John O’Keefe adapted the story for stage and with it brought the birth of Aladdin, the pantomime…
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, 1979, starring Ken Platt. Credit: West Yorkshire Archive Service
The lamp in Leeds
From the late 1800s, Aladdin was taking the stage in Leeds as a pantomime. Its first outing, in 1897, was a specifically jubilant affair – on account of the Jubilee procession the year prior. To celebrate, the 1897 production at The Grand saw the final scene – traditionally, a Harlequinade – replaced with a reproduction of the Jubilee celebrations told through animated pictures. It would be only 10 years later that Aladdin returned to The Grand, again with some ceremony, as the people of Leeds came together for a charity matinee in aid of the Leeds Charities and Lifeboat Fund.
There were a handful of iterations of Aladdin throughout the nineties, in the time before pantomime ultimately left The Grand and crossed the road over to The Varieties. 1943 saw the first iteration of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, a title which would be used on-and-off for the next few decades. One notable production using this title came in 1960, starring the nationally-famed Jimmy Clitheroe, who was best known at the time and after for his BBC Radio show The Clitheroe Kid. And just like that, a new era for pantomime in Leeds was born – the era of star casting.
This can be tracked as lasting all the way until the 2000s. Variety performer Ken Platt taking the stage in 1979 in the first production of the pantomime at The Varieties, where it would remain. Jeremy Beadle, of Game for a Laugh and You’ve Been Framed fame, in 1989, Ian Williams of Neighbours in 1995, Michael Hobbs of Eastenders in 1999, Jon Adamson of Coronation Street in 2004. All of this building up to one final production of the classic pantomime in 2007, before the first Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime hit the spotlight in 2017.
Aladdin, 1897. Credit: West Yorkshire Archive Service
Aladdin, 1989, starring Jeremy Beadle. Credit: West Yorkshire Archive Service
Aladdin, 1995, starring Ian Williams. Credit: West Yorkshire Archive Service
Aladdin: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2017
Back to Rock ‘n’ Roll
It feels impossible that it could already be that time of year again… but thankfully, it is! Our historic Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is ramping up and almost ready to open at The Varieties. With returning fan-favourite cast members and new talent you’re bound to love, come see a fresh take on tale of Aladdin set to a banging soundtrack of rock ‘n’ roll hits.
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