21 Raring2go! WHAT’S ON AT THE SWAN THEATRE MON 2 DECEMBER 2024 - SUN 5 JANUARY 2025 WORCESTERTHEATRES.CO.UK | BOX OFFICE: 01905 611 427 WORCESTER REPERTORY COMPANY Panto Season Pantomime has a long theatrical history in western culture, first appearing as a type of traveling street theatre which came from Italy in the 16th Century. It slowly evolved to become the pantomime we know today, with their own traditions. The Good Fairy always enters from the audience’s left side (which is stage right), and the villain always enters from the audience’s right side (which is stage left). This dates back to medieval plays where the right side of the stage symbolised heaven, the left side symbolised hell. No real money should be used on stage. It is considered bad luck to complete a performance without an audience in attendance - so the last line of a play is not said during rehearsals. No whistling! It is considered very bad luck to whistle onstage - this tradition is probably with very good reason behind it. Original stage crews used coded whistles to cue scene changes - actors whistling on stage could find themselves with a piece of heavy scenery landing on their heads! The Principle Boy was traditionally always played by a young woman, while the Pantomime Dame is traditionally played by a man. Many childhood memories of Christmas are linked to a magical outing to the local pantomime. This year there are some great ones to choose from. Aladdin is playing at the Swan Theatre in Worcester from the 2nd December until January 5th, while Sleeping Beauty comes to The Courtyard in Hereford from the 27th November until the 4th of January. For younger audiences, both theatres run Christmas shows throughout December too. Ohhh no they don’t? Ohhhhhh yes they do!!!!!! Win!! You could win tickets to the pantos above -see pages 30 & 31 for details.
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