Theatre Anatomy
Click or tap on pictures to see them all and explanations
Welcome To The Pantomime
Theatre
The paper toy theatre has been around for a long, long time and once upon a time they were played with by the children of the Victorian age. Nowadays, not so young children like myself play with them. My chosen theatre is the Mr Jackson's Pantomime Theatre, it was designed by Peter Jackson and distributed by Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop.
Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop sells vintage and retro toys in London's Covent Garden. One of the oldest toy shops in London. Actor Peter Baldwin co-owned the shop from 1988 to his death in 2015. The Shop specialises in Victorian toy theatres, both original and reproduction, in addition to books, puppets, music boxes and other traditional toys.
Toy theatres were often printed on paperboard sheets and sold as kits at the concession stand of an opera house, playhouse, or vaudeville theatre. Toy theatres were assembled at home and performed for family members and guests, sometimes with live musical accompaniment.
A great outing for the family today would be a trip to Pollock's Toy Museum in London. I first got a paper theatre for a Christmas Present when I was a boy so I was so happy when my wife bought me one this last Christmas taking me back so, so many years. See my video below of Cinderella and my theatre.
Toy Theatre's On YouTube
Harlequin makes a Royal Visit
The Paper Theatre - Great Special Effects
Victorian Toy Theatre
Toy Theatre Newsreel
Pollock's Toy Shop
Other Possible Pantomimes
If you are looking for inspiration for your own pantomimes checkout the show below.
Please note, there are two versions of The Pirates Of Penzance that are copyrighted and the Australian Version is one of them.
Then there Is Robing Hood, Men In Tights.
Again highly copyrighted so caution need here too, as seen here in this video Men In Tights can be very funny and the principle boy Robin can easily be played by a lady.
You can also have your Pantomime in any language too, below is "Shane A'r Bont Hud" and in the Welsh language, such fun.
Ymunwch â Shane gyda chast a gymeriadau lliwgar a rhai o sêr y byd rygbi i fwynhau hwyl y panto. Join Shane, a host of other rugby stars and cast of colourful characters for panto fun.
