Jecca Zane
Sandra 1Robinsons' Exciting New Pantomime Promotion
January 18th 2010 01:55
It's an unlikely scenario: British squash company Robinsons is getting into children's pantomimes.
'Pantomimes have always been a highlight for families at Christmas and Robinsons continues to refresh generations of families, so we felt this was the perfect partnership."
At the heart of this very creative promotion is an interactive website. Children are guided every step of the way with the help of fun graphics, sounds and cues.
Robinsons' site makes the panto process engaging and fun for kids. There are even pdf scripts and instructions for someone (probably a frazzled mother) to make costumes!
So what is a pantomime? The form has changed much over the years and is always adapted to suit audiences and contexts.
Wikipedia does, however, list certain 'conventions':
* The leading male juvenile character (the 'principal boy') - is traditionally played by a young woman, and usually in tight-fitting male garments (such as breeches) that make her female charms evident.
* An older woman (the pantomime dame - often the hero's mother) is usually played by a man in drag.
* Risqué double entendre, often wringing innuendo out of perfectly innocent phrases. This is, in theory, over the heads of the children in the audience.
* Audience participation, including calls of "He's behind you!" (or "Look behind you!"), and "Oh, yes it is!" and "Oh, no it isn't!" The audience is always encouraged to boo the villain and "awwwww" the poor victims, such as the rejected dame, who usually fancies the prince.
* A song combining a well-known tune with re-written lyrics. The audience is encouraged to sing the song; often one half of the audience is challenged to sing 'their' chorus louder than the other half.
Direct your kids to the Robinsons site and bring your own family pantomime to life.
(Robinsons are also running a 'Search for a Star' contest. Young performers are encouraged to audition for some big shows).
'Pantomimes have always been a highlight for families at Christmas and Robinsons continues to refresh generations of families, so we felt this was the perfect partnership."
At the heart of this very creative promotion is an interactive website. Children are guided every step of the way with the help of fun graphics, sounds and cues.
Robinsons' site makes the panto process engaging and fun for kids. There are even pdf scripts and instructions for someone (probably a frazzled mother) to make costumes!
So what is a pantomime? The form has changed much over the years and is always adapted to suit audiences and contexts.
Wikipedia does, however, list certain 'conventions':
* The leading male juvenile character (the 'principal boy') - is traditionally played by a young woman, and usually in tight-fitting male garments (such as breeches) that make her female charms evident.
* An older woman (the pantomime dame - often the hero's mother) is usually played by a man in drag.
* Risqué double entendre, often wringing innuendo out of perfectly innocent phrases. This is, in theory, over the heads of the children in the audience.
* Audience participation, including calls of "He's behind you!" (or "Look behind you!"), and "Oh, yes it is!" and "Oh, no it isn't!" The audience is always encouraged to boo the villain and "awwwww" the poor victims, such as the rejected dame, who usually fancies the prince.
* A song combining a well-known tune with re-written lyrics. The audience is encouraged to sing the song; often one half of the audience is challenged to sing 'their' chorus louder than the other half.
Direct your kids to the Robinsons site and bring your own family pantomime to life.
(Robinsons are also running a 'Search for a Star' contest. Young performers are encouraged to audition for some big shows).
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