The Pantomime Writers Book Of Gags And Routines

Comedian and actor Paul Harris has brought together an hilarious collection of theatrical material, much of it originating in Victorian times and refined and updated in many pantomime productions since.

There are thousands of pantomimes staged throughout the world every year, most of them in Britain. Most groups, whether they be amateur drama societies, schools, Women's Institutes or Village Hall committees are constantly on the lookout for something fresh and original. This is often a matter of economics, as professional pantomimes can be costly in terms of performing rights, let alone the cost of scripts. This book is aimed at those people who take part in this increasingly popular hobby, and at the writer who wishes to write a pantomime, either for a local group, or, indeed, for mass publication.

Where to sell what you write.

Dating back to the middle ages, British pantomime has absorbed the traditions of Commedia dell'Arte, Harlequinades, Music Hall and slapstick to produce a unique theatrical tradition. Supported by Iavish archive and contemporary photographs, writer Peter Lathan explores the history and development of panto, discovering where panto gags come from, who is considered to be the greatest Dame of all time and why is it that a girl always plays a boy falling in love with a girl whose mother is a man All our favourite stories are included - from Cinderella and Aladdin to Jack and Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty - in this ultimate celebration of Britain's unique love affair with panto.

Despite the efforts of her ugly sisters, Chlorine and Maureen, Cinderella shall go to the Royal Ball with the help of Buttons and Fairy Liquid. However, with mistaken identities, mishaps and magic hats on the menu, the journey isn't a simple one and an unsuspecting audience member will need to save the day.'Guy's fantastic scripts tick every box. They combine all the great traditions of pantomime with a fresh and fun twist for a contemporary audience. Best of all, they tell the story with truth and heart. I love them!'Bonnie Langford'Laugh a second stuff. Guy's scripts are jam packed with great gags and hilarious routines, sprinkled with panto magic.'Joe Pasquale

The Hanlons—a family of six brothers from Manchester, England—were one of the world’s premiere performing troupes in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, yet their legacy has been mostly forgotten. In The Hanlon Brothers: From Daredevil Acrobatics to Spectacle Pantomime, 1833–1931, Mark Cosdon carefully documents the careers of this talented family and enumerates their many contributions to modern popular entertainment. As young men, the Hanlons stunned audiences all over the world with their daring acrobatic feats. After a tragic accident severely injured one brother (and indirectly led to his suicide in a manner achievable only by someone with considerable acrobatic talents), they moved into the safer arena of spectacle pantomime, where they became the rage of Parisian popular theatre. They achieved fame with their uproariously funny and technically astonishing production of Le Voyage en Suisse. After settling permanently in the northeastern United States, they developed two more full-length pantomimes, Fantasma and Superba. The three shows toured for more than thirty years, a testament to their popularity and to the Hanlons’ impressive business acumen. The book’s illustrations—including sketches of their performances, studio photographs of the Hanlons, and posters for all three of their major pantomimes—are essential to the understanding of their work. The Hanlon Brothers is painstakingly researched yet accessible and engaging. Cosdon has managed to provide a thorough and engrossing account of the Hanlons’ lives and careers, which will no doubt help to reestablish their legacy in the world of popular entertainment.

Pantomime is a much-loved institution, but how is it created? What tools and processes are used? Working from purely a title, this practical book explains how a script and a design can develop together through the creative processes to culminate in the wonder and excitement of a unique production on opening night. * Explains how to get started in writing and designing an original pantomime * Uses major professional productions to illustrate established techniques and new innovations * Examines pantomime traditions and scene structure and how these can be utilized in productions today * Describes how staging design can influence the narrative * Looks at how pantomime characters develop through their costume * Explores the tricks and magic essential to pantomime Shows visuals from a range of production from small regional through to large commercial pantomimes AUTHOR: Joyce Branagh has been directing professionally since 1994. Her work ranges from Shakespeare to new plays at theatres throughout the UK and Ireland. She has directed successful pantomimes at Watford Palace Theatre for several years, either developing the script closely with the writer or being the principal writer. Keith Orton has worked as a professional designer since 1991, as well as tutoring at Central School of Speech and Drama. Recently he has specialized in pantomime design working with Joyce Branagh exclusively. He has a particular interest in how design can help and influence the development of new writing. ILLUSTRATIONS: 180 colour photographs *