Get You in Panto Town Exhibition
A special exhibition celebrating the rich history of Glaswegian and Scottish pantomime has officially opened at Glasgow City Chambers.
About Get You in Panto Town Exhibition
| 8th Dec 2025 to 24th Dec 2025 | |
| 8.30am - 5pm | |
|
Glasgow City Chambers Glasgow City Chambers George Square, Glasgow City Centre G2 1DU |
|
| This is a free event | |
| Visit the event website here |
Elaine C Smith as Mrs Potty in Beauty and the Beast at The King's Glasgow. Credit Richard Campbell
Curated by academics linked to the University of Glasgow, the exhibition plays a starring role in the Get You in Panto Town celebrations, which bring the Glasgow 850 programme to a festive finish.
Open on weekdays until Christmas Eve, the free exhibition charts the colourful story of Scotland’s beloved festive tradition, both past and present.
From pantomime’s stories, stars and humour, to its magnificent sets, costumes and its special place in the hearts of audiences, the exhibition captures the heart and history of the tradition that has delighted audiences for generations.
The curated display explores every facet of this unique art form, and Glasgow’s close relationship with it. Visitors can explore the history of favourite characters, top-of-the-bill stars, and legendary theatres.
Designed to be an immersive experience, the exhibition combines illustrated panels and life-size cut-out figures of Scottish pantomime stars together with interactive elements.
From its Victorian origins right up to the present day, the exhibition features pictures, photographs, programmes and playbills from a wide range of sources, including the Scottish Theatre Archive in Special Collections at the University of Glasgow Library, and the collections of performers, producers and audience members themselves.
Rare home movie footage from the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive, showing pantomimes from the 1930s to the 1950s, and audio recordings of interviews and music are also included.
The displays delve into the influence of music hall and variety, honour the great Scottish comedians of the past, and revisit famous productions like The Tintock Cup.
Originally produced for the research project Pantomime in Scotland: ‘Your other national theatre’ funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the exhibition has been updated to reflect the ways in which pantomime is constantly adapting and evolving.
This includes looking at Elaine C. Smith’s role as the first woman to headline as a dame and Johnny McKnight’s brilliant contemporary reimagining of pantomime stories at the Tron.
With generations of Glasgow audiences attending pantomimes in their thousands annually, the joyful and educational exhibition aims to share and celebrate its enduring legacy.
The project has been led by Professor Anselm Heinrich (Theatre Studies, University of Glasgow) with Dr Deven Parker (Leverhulme Fellow in Critical Studies, University of Glasgow) and Dr Paul Maloney (Research Follow on Pantomime in Scotland and former University of Glasgow Honorary Research Fellow in Theatre Studies).
The Get You in Panto Town Exhibition is free to enter and open at Glasgow City Chambers, Monday – Fridays from 8.30am – 5pm, until 24 December.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Glasgow City Chambers
Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour
This is a 1.5 hour tour that will take you around all the main sites of the city, giving you an excellent opportunity to find out about Glasgow's rich history and culture!
READ MORE
A Wee Walk & A Whisky (or three!)
Enjoy a wee walk and a premium whisky tasting in a local pub with a fun, local guide and see a new side to the city on your trip with this small group tour with Walking Tours in Glasgow!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Get You in Panto Town Exhibition
A special exhibition celebrating the rich history of Glaswegian and Scottish pantomime has officially opened at Glasgow City Chambers.
READ MORE
Abandoned: International Photography Exhibition
The Glasgow Gallery of Photography are hosting a month long photography exhibition, with the theme Abandoned at their exhibition space on High Street during January!
READ MORE
Travel: International Photography Exhibition
The Glasgow Gallery of Photography are hosting a month long photography exhibition, showcasing Travel in photography at their exhibition space on High Street during January.
READ MORE
The Scottish Motorhome, Caravan & Holiday Home Show
The Scottish Motorhome, Caravan & Holiday Home Show returns to the Scottish Event Campus for 2026 between the 5th and 8th of February!
READ MORE
Surreal: International Photography Exhibition
In February, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Surreal running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Diptych/Triptych: International Photography Exhibition
In February, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Diptych/Triptych running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Women in Photography: International Photography Exhibition
In March, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition showing the work of Women in Photography running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Environment: International Photography Exhibition
In March, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Environment running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Barbie®: The Exhibition
Come and celebrate how Barbie has inspired generations across the world for almost seventy years when Barbie®: The Exhibition comes to Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum!
READ MOREFind other events in Glasgow
Sponsored Links