Pantomime

Pantomime (/ˈpæntəˌmaɪm/;[1] informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. Developed in England, it is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking countries, especially during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy, and dancing. It generally combines gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story mostly based on a well-known fairy tale, fable, or folk tale. Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre in which the audience is encouraged and expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers.

Pantomime has a long theatrical history in Western culture dating back to the era of classical theatre. It developed partly from the 16th century commedia dell'arte tradition of Italy and other European and British stage traditions, such as 17th-century masques and music hall.[3] An important part of the pantomime, until the late 19th century, was the harlequinade.[5]

Outside the British Isles, the word "pantomime" is often understood to mean miming, rather than the theatrical form described here.[1]