Stephen Brennan, Creative Learning Producer, shares with us his memories of pantos, the impact they can have on young people and why he thinks it’s important to come together in theatres at this time of year.
Written by Stephen Brennan
1990: Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Five-year-old me in the Circle on one of his very first theatre trips. It’s Christmas and in sparkling curly writing the word Cinderella covers the front cloth. As the houselights go down and the band strikes up, there’s an excited murmur in the room and in a flash of pyros on to the stage comes the good fairy. As she begins her opening verse, I’m instantly enthralled. Cheering with the goodies, booing the baddies and as wowed as every other child when Cinders carriage appears pulled by four real-life white ponies.
2000: A country walk in Lincolnshire. It’s a few days after Christmas and a I’m on a day off from performing in my first professional panto. Last night my cousins came to watch and as they all stroll through a muddy field, the youngest cousin is repeating every single joke from the show. “You enjoyed it, then?” his dad quips. “It was amazing!” shouts the cousin in a brief pause between jokes.
2016: A working men’s club somewhere in Wales. A touring production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Today the team got lost en route, had to unload the van in torrential rain, and then discovered the inflatable beanstalk had a puncture. By showtime, tempers were frayed and the last thing anyone felt like doing was performing. But as I make my first entrance as the villain and see the terrified children take the cue from their parents and pluck up courage to boo and hiss, suddenly all that other stuff seems irrelevant.
Stephen Brennan in Jack and the Beanstalk
2022: The City Varieties in Leeds. As this year’s panto gets into full swing, I find myself thinking, as I often do at this time of year, of these moments in my life: of the power of panto and the impact it has on children. Far too many actors are snobby about panto, many former colleagues would refuse to do it, as it was somehow beneath them. There is a sense in some quarters of the industry that pantomime is easy, and because it’s loud, raucous and at its heart for children, that it’s somehow inferior to other forms of theatre.
Anyone who has had a part in putting on a panto will tell you, it’s anything but easy. It would be easy to boo and hiss at those who think it is, but actually, I find it quite sad. Admittedly, I’m biased. I love pantomime. I think it’s fun, cheeky, pure, honest and ultimately, something that engages audiences from five to 105. It’s something that brings families together – possibly the only thing in a theatre’s programme that will see several generations come to a single performance. For so many, it’s a crucial part of their Christmas celebration. During the pandemic when theatres across the land were closed, I lost count of the number of times someone asked me, “do you think there’ll be panto this year?”.
Pantos matter!
Claire Keenan in Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
Ben Stratton in Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
Ben Mabberley in Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
In the work we do as the Learning and Engagement team, we have the privilege of introducing young people to our venues for the very first time. I’ve yet to do a school tour where at least one child hasn’t been to the theatre before and to see and hear their awed reactions to walking into our buildings is something that never gets old. Data and experience tell me, that once a young person engages with our theatres, they are likely to do so again.
Panto is no different. It’s a gateway for young people to discover the world of theatre. Though it’s very unlikely they’ll ever shout, “it’s behind you!” at an Opera North show or see the lead dancer hit in the face with a custard pie during The Mousetrap, that feeling of being in the theatre, of being part of a shared cultural experience will stay with them whatever show they are watching.
Our team are currently delivering workshops on panto skills in schools around Leeds. These workshops are designed to teach students about the history of this particularly British institution (that has its roots in Greece and Italy), about the traditions of the format (for example, the fairy enters stage right and the villain stage left), and give them an opportunity to try out making their own mini-panto scenes. It’s a lot of fun, and for me as a facilitator, it’s a joy to see — just like that five-year-old in Croydon, that excited child in the Lincolnshire countryside and the young children in that Welsh village hall. Young people becoming enthralled by the magic of pantomime and the power of theatre.
Year 7-9 Leeds West Academy in Panto workshops
As I type this, our company values are on one of the screens in front of me. ‘Create the extraordinary’ and ‘Bring People Together.’ I’m not sure I could describe what panto can do more perfectly. So, when you go and see Dick Whittington this year, in amongst the music and the laughter, take a second. Look at all the families enjoying the show, at the expressions on the faces of the children and watch that magic take hold of them. Because ultimately, that’s what it’s all about… oh, yes, it is!
Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto Cast, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
James Hudson, Tim Roberts, Lana Walker in Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
Lana Walker, Rhiannon Hopkins in Dick Whittington: The Rock 'n' Roll Panto, 2022. Credit Ant Robling
Dick Whittington: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto
You’ll be wowed by this breath-taking production which mixes traditional elements of audience participation and corny gags with a jukebox full of classic rock anthems and chart-toppers, all performed live on stage by our ultra-talented cast of actor-musicians.
Leeds Heritage Theatres Engagement Fund
Every year, we work with over 10,000 young people across the city, in schools, youth groups and other sessions to help them build skills, confidence and pride through our creative learning and engagement programme. All donations to this fund will help us to continue our work and reach more people across the Leeds City Region.
