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.
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