A History of British Pantomime

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Jill Sullivan (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.03: English Writing and Culture: Renaissance (Elizabethan and Jacobean periods) , 1485-1625.
Vol. editors: William M. Hamlin (Washington State University), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University), Ema Vyroubalova (Trinity College Dublin)

Domains

Performing Arts

Dates

Date of occurrence c.1500-

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Resources

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In the twenty-first century, pantomime as a genre is generally understood as a particularly British theatrical tradition that became established in the late eighteenth century. Its antecedents lay in the European Commedia dell’arte of the Renaissance, a performance genre itself potentially influenced by elements of classical theatre. The history of British pantomime has been one of innovation, frequently shaped by the social, economic and political world beyond the theatre, but also marked by debates centering on the cultural standing of the genre and specific performers.

From Greek Origins to Renaissance Italy

In seeking a history of the pantomime before the Commedia dell’arte of the sixteenth and seventeenth century, there is little to suggest a

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4063 words

Citation: Sullivan, Jill. "A History of British Pantomime". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=812, accessed 21 November 2024.]