King's Theatre Pantomime
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[edit] The King's Theatre, Glasgow - Annual Pantomime
The annual pantomime at the King's has been running since the mid 1960s, and has always been a highlight of the Glasgow theatrical calendar. Prior to 1967 pantomimes were produced by Howard & Wyndham, but these were by no means an annual event. The main Howard & Wyndham pantomime was staged at The Alhambra. It was only when the King's was sold to the Glasgow Corporation (later Glasgow City Council) the pantomime became a regular occurrence each winter. The King's pantomime has often been considered as Scotland's premier pantomime, and remains as popular as ever. The 2005/2006 production of Cinderella was seen by over 100,000 people, cost £800,000 to stage and brought in over £1m. Planning for these productions takes well over a year. The planning for the last production of Aladdin (opened 1st Dec 2006) started in October 2005, and details had already been announced before the close of the previous 2005 pantomime, Cinderella.
Pantomime in Scotland has always been popular, especially in Glasgow, and there has been a honorable tradition of classy performers. The first recorded panto was back in 1751, but it only really took off in the 1930s. In 1960, when Rikki Fulton played dame at The Alhambra, an incredible 240,000 people saw the show. However, Stanley Baxter is considered by many as the King of pantomime dames in Scotland. Stanley always had the most elaborate costumes. Possibly one of the most memorable for audiences who will remember him would be the Chandelier. When most actors take their bows at the end, they will walk down the staircase. But Stanley was flown in, in a great big lit chandelier, which upstaged anyone else on stage by miles!
The sets were always, and still are, stunning pieces of work. From the glittering front cloth that bears the name of the show, right through to the great staircase at the grand finale, each scene is full of colour and countless hours of hard work. The King's follows the traditions of panto right down to the last detail. The goody enters from the Right, the baddie enters from the Left, and the last line of the show is not said until it is presented to an audience. The Glasgow audiences are always very responsive, and this can especially be observed at the second last scene, where Gerard Kelly does his infamous Song Sheet. He has a unique style and the vast majority of the audience will stand up, wiggle their bum and do all the actions as required by Kelly.
Pantomime is very much aimed at children, as it is often their first experience of theatre. However, audiences ages 1 to 100 can enjoy the show as there is something for everyone. Both Children and Adults join in with the "Its behind you's" and "Oh no your not's." The productions remain as lavish as ever, and from 2005 has been managed by First Family Entertainment who have said that they will continue to use the unique Glasweigian pantomime format, and take it to their other pantomime productions across the UK.
[edit] Next Production 2007/2008
Sleeping Beauty
Starring
- Written by Bob Black
- Associate Producer Elaine C Smith
- Director Tony Cownie
Friday 30th Nov 2007 until Saturday 12th January 2008
[edit] Most Recent Production 2006/2007
Aladdin
The most recent panto to run at the King's ran from Fri 1st Dec 2006 until Saturday, 13th January 2007, with performances twice daily, six days a week. There was a total of 74 performances. The show starred
Gerard Kelly - Wishee Washee
Julie Wilson Nimmo - So Shy
Eric Potts - Widow Twankey
Barrie Hunter - Emperor
Amy Crieghton - Princess Jasmine
John Kielty - Aladdin
Peter Kelly - Abanazar
Gavin Mitchell - Captain Watt
Steven McNicoll - Sergeant Wright
The show was written by Bob Black.
Musical Director was Irvin Duguid.
Directed by Tony Cownie
Choreography by Jon Bowles
Co produced by Elaine C Smith.
Produced by First Family Entertainment.
An article was featured in The Sunday Post on Sunday 17th December 2006 about the year's production.
[edit] Previous Productions
- 2006/2007 - Aladdin (First Family Entertainment Production)
- 2005/2006 - Cinderella (First Family Entertainment Production)
- 2004/2005 - Mother Goose
- 2003/2004 - Sleeping Beauty
- 2002/2003 - Aladdin
- 2001/2002 - Babes in the Wood
- 2000/2001 - Cinderella
- 1999/2000 - Mother Goose
- 1998/1999 - Sleeping Beauty
- 1997/1998 - Aladdin
- 1996/1997 - Cinderella
- 1995/1996 - Babes In The Wood
- 1994/1995 - Sleeping Beauty
- 1993/1994 - Dick Whittington
- 1992/1993 - Aladdin?
- 1991/1992 - Cinderella
- 1990/1991 - Babes in the Wood
- 1989/1990 - Mother Goose
- 1988/1989 - Jack and the Beanstalk
- 1987/1988 - Goodnight Cinders (Glasweigian version of Cinderella)
- 1986/1987 - Aladdin
- 1985/1986 - Sinbad the Sailor
- 1984/1985 - Sleeping Beauty
- 1983/1984 - Mother Goose
- 1982/1983 - Jack and the Beanstalk
- 1981/1982 - Babes in the Wood
- 1980/1981 - Cinderella
- 1979/1980 - ?
- 1978/1979 - Aladdin
- 1977/1978 - Sleeping Beauty
- 1976/1977 - Jack and the Beanstalk
- 1975/1976 - Babes in the Wood
- 1974/1975 - Robinson Crusoe
- 1973/1974 - Cinderella
- 1972/1973 - Aladdin
- 1971/1972 - Mother Goose
- 1970/1971 - Babes in the Wood?
- 1969/1970 - ?
- 1968/1969 - ?
- 1967/1968 - Aladdin
- 1966/1967 - The World of Jamie (Howard & Wyndham Production)
- 1965/1966 - A Love for Jamie (Howard & Wyndham Production)
- 1964/1965 - A Wish for Jamie (Howard & Wyndham Production)
[edit] Sources
- Book - Scotland's Splendid Theatres - ISBN 0-7486-6261-8
- TV Program - BBC Scotland 'Celebrating 100 year's at the King's
- Offical Pantomime Page
[edit] Other areas of Interest
Wikipedia:-
- First Family Entertainment
- Ambassador Theatre Group
- King's Theatre, Glasgow
- The British Pantomime
- Pantomime
- Stanley Baxter
- Rikki Fulton
- Jimmy Logan
- Elaine C Smith
- Gerard Kelly
External:-
- Article on Panto 2005/2006 - Cinderella this Article taken from The Sunday Herald, Dec 4th 2005 by Peter Ross provides an insight into The King's pantomime.
- Aladdin 06/07 Pantomime ReviewThe Stage
- Theatre Website
- Its-Behind You.com A great resource for anyone interested in Pantomime.
