Things to do in London at Christmas 2013
Christmas Pantomime in London 2013
You have to love Christmas pantomime - it's more than a London experience, it's a British tradition!
Jack and the Beanstalk
The most popular London pantomime's include Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White. Children absolutely love Christmas panto, so expect to be surrounded by very young kids when you go!
Panto Theatres
The following theatres usually run Pantomimes at Christmas
Theatre Royal Stratford East - 1 Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN
Hackney Empire - 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
Shaw Theatre - 100-110 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AJ
Peacock Theatre - Portugal Street London WC2A 2HT
Battersea Barge - Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5BP
The Broadway Barking - Broadway, Barking IG11 7LS
Rosemary Branch Theatre - 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT
Beck Theatre, Hayes - Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE
Greenwich Theatre - Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES
Richmond Theatre - The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
New Wimbledon Theatre - The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG
Broadway Theatre - Catford, London SE6 4RU
Tara Theatre - Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES
Pantomime Conventions
For some reason the British like to dress up, in the clothing of the opposite sex. And in Xmas Pantomime its a convention that the main male character is actually played by an actress, wearing clothes that are designed to make her shape obvious, and the Pantomime Dame is usually played by a man.
One thing you may not know is that the good guys tend to enter the stage from the right, and the bad guys from the left. This tradition began in medieval mystery plays, where the right side of the stage symbolised Heaven and the left side symbolised Hell. Perhaps an approach for your next christmas party?
btw - has anyone seen Captain Hook? What? He's behind me?
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The Christmas Blog
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by Mr B
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