insideKENT Magazine Issue 114 - October 2021 | Page 19

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

OH YES IT IS !

WITH ITS ROOTS IN 16TH-CENTURY ITALIAN ‘ COMMEDIA DELL ’ ARTE ’ WHICH USED DANCE , MUSIC , TUMBLING , ACROBATICS AND A CAST OF MISCHIEVOUS
CHARACTERS , THE HUMBLE PANTOMIME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS OUR CHRISTMAS
ENTERTAINMENT OF CHOICE IN THE VICTORIAN ERA .
With the principal boy typically played by a female and the legendary pantomime dame in drag , 100 ’ s of years of slapstick , witty puns and tongue-in-cheek comedy hasn ’ t diminished our love for our now ensconced festive tradition .
After an upsetting covid hiatus last year , panto is officially back this year ; so get ready to clap , boo and shout ‘ it ’ s behind you !’ as a host of TV and West End stars and familiar local faces return to the stage in Kent this winter ; and insideKENT has the low down on the best of the bunch ...
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