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PANTOMIME EDUCATION PACK
P A N T O M I M E E D U C AT I O N P A C K
Page No.About us 3Introduction 4Jack and the Beanstalk, an English fairy tale 5The history of Jack and the Beanstalk 6Fairytale table 7Interesting facts 8Jack and the Beanstalk, original story 10Brief history of drama 17Who makes a Pantomime 21Vocabulary sheet 22Glossary of theatrical items 23Timeline of making a panto 24Themes in making Jack and the Beanstalk 25Pantomime characters 26Pantomime traditions 28Exercises & Activities 29
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contents
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With a 1,020 seat auditorium and a vast amount of previous productions under its belt, the Millennium Forum offers a wide variety of entertaining cultural, artistic and dramatic events throughout the year. We are proud to present some of the leading shows in an array of fields; Drama, Musicals, Opera, Festivals, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Children’s Shows, Classical & Popular Music, and, of course, Pantomime.
In addition to hosting some of the largest, most critically acclaimed shows in the West End and the UK and Ireland as a whole, the Millennium Forum has been producing its own shows for over a decade. In 2004 as part of the Association of Regional Theatres (Northern Ireland), Adrian Dunbar directed Brian Friel’s Philadelphia, Here I Come! The show was succeeded by other highly accomplished productions such as Da by Hugh Leonard (2006) and Juno & The Paycock by Sean O’Casey (2008).
Adrian Dunbar is one of Millennium Forum Productions’ most prolific directors; his production of Frank McGuinness’ Carthaginians toured throughout the country and was received to wide critical acclaim. Brian Friel’s Performances opened in February of 2013 in the Great Hall of Magee as part of the UK City of Culture programme of events. March and April of 2013 also welcomed the wildly successful tour of Brian Friel’s Translations. The Millennium Forum also produced Frank McGuinness’ The Factory Girls, which embarked on an extensive tour of thirteen venues in the spring of 2013. Also, in the City of Culture year a special punk musical called Teenage Kicks was written by Colm Bateman and produced in conjunction with the Nerve Centre.
A much beloved Christmas tradition in Derry/Londonderry is the Millennium Forum’s annual holiday pantomime. In 2006, Millennium Forum Productions produced the very first of these - Cinderella. This was promptly followed by Jack and the Beanstalk (2007), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2008), Aladdin (2009), Sleeping Beauty (2010), Cinderella (2011), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2012), Peter Pan (2013), Jack and the Beanstalk (2014), Aladdin (2015) and Cinderella (2016).
The Millennium Forum has hosted countless world-class acts throughout the years it has been active. Some of the most notable include Don McClean, Ray Davies and Irish tours of The Blind Boys of Alabama.
The Millennium Forum also produces a Summer Youth Musical annually. Previous productions have included Les Misérables, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd.
contents about us
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Welcome to The Millennium Forum and to this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.We hope you enjoy the Show!
This pack of information and activities has been put together for you to use in the classroom either before or after your visit to Jack and the Beanstalk.
It can be used however you choose, whether it be for ideas for you to base lessons on or for a fun ‘photocopy and go’ task.
For further information regarding this pack, please contact:
Siobhán MolloySiobhán MolloyEducation & Schools Marketing Officer
Millennium ForumNewmarket StreetDerry/LondonderryBT48 6EB02871 [email protected]
Introduction
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KS1 (P3-P4) • The story Jack and the Beanstalk is an English fairy tale. • DEFINITION: A simple children’s story about magical creatures.
Q: Can you name any fairy tales?
KS2 (P5-P7) • The story Jack and the Beanstalk is an English fairy tale. • DEFINITION: A fairy tale is a story for children involving fantastic forces and beings such as, fairies, wizards, and goblins. • The French author Charles Perrault is known as one of the first people to actually write down these folk stories and in doing so, he created a new literary genre, known as the fairy tale
Q: Who is the fantastic force (imaginary being/ magical creature) in Jack and the Beanstalk?A: The giant
KS3 (Year 8-10) • The story “Jack and the Beanstalk” is an English fairy tale. • Fairy tales are stories for children which feature magical forces and beings, such as, wizards, giants, goblins and fairies. • Fairy tales originate from folk tales, which were passed on orally for hundreds of years. • The French author Charles Perrault is known as one of the first people to actually write down these folk stories and in doing so, he created a new literary genre, known as the fairy tale. • Perrault published these stories under the title Tales and Stories of the Past with Morals, subtitled Tales of Mother Goose in 1697. • The best known of his tales include Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, The Sleeping Beauty, and Bluebeard. • After Perrault, there were two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who wanted to write down the classic German versions of these tales and these were printed in a collection which was first published in 1812 (More than 100 years after Perrault). • The Brothers Grimm, like Perrault, weren’t the authors of the fairy tales, instead they were scholars who wanted the stories saved.
Q: Who was the first person known to record fairy tales?A: Charles Perrault
Introduction Jack and the Beanstalk: An English Fairy Tale
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KS1 (P3-P4) • The first version of Jack and the Beanstalk was named The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean.
Q: What does “enchanted” mean/ what is another word for “enchanted”?A: Definition: affected by magicSynonyms: magical, charmed, captivated, bewitched, under a spell.
KS2 (P5-P7) • The first version of Jack and the Beanstalk was named The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean. • The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean was published almost 400 years ago (in 1734!).
Q: What does “publish” mean?A: To prepare and issue (a book, journal, or piece of music) for public sale.
• Jack was a hero of many English folk stories, including Jack Sprat, Little Jack Horner, Jack the Giant Killer and Jack Frost.
KS3 (Year 8-10) • The first version of Jack and the Beanstalk was named The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean. • The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean was published almost 400 years ago (in 1734!).
Q: What does “publish” mean?A: To prepare and issue (a book, journal, or piece of music) for public sale.
• Jack was a hero of many English folk stories, including Jack Sprat, Little Jack Horner, Jack the Giant Killer and Jack Frost. • In 1807, Benjamin Tabart rewrote the story giving it the title The History of Jack and the Beanstalk. • The most famous version of Jack and the Beanstalk was re-written by Joseph Jacobs in 1890 in English Fairy Tales. • Jacobs was a notable collector and publisher of English folklore. His work went on to popularise some of the world’s best known versions of English fairy tales including “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Goldilocks and the three bears”, “The Three Little Pigs”, “Jack the Giant Killer” and “The History of Tom Thumb”.
The History of Jack and the Beanstalk
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The History of Jack and the Beanstalk Fairy Tale Table
French
Cinderella
Little Red Riding Hood
Puss in Boots
Sleeping Beauty
German
Rapunzel
Hansel and Gretel
Snow White
Rumpelstiltskin
English
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the three bears
The Three Little Pigs
The History of Tom Thumb
Irish
The Children of Lir
The Salmon of Knowledge
Cú Chulainn
Mír and Éadaoin
Activity: • Which of these fairy tales do you know?
• Research one of the Irish fairy tales and re-write it in your own words.
• Listen to the story of Mir and Éadaoin…When you go to the Millennium Forum for the pantomime trip, try to spot the mosaic on the wall showing this story.
• How many features of the story can you recognise – write them down e.g. find the butterfly.
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• The Giant’s cry “Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!” originates from Shakespeare’s King Lear. • The Giant originally had no name, but has often picked up the name Blunderbore in Pantomimes. • In Roald Dahl’s The BFG, Jack is mentioned by the evil giants who are afraid of the “giantkiller” Jack, who kills Giants with his Beanstalk. The Giant’s don’t know how he uses his beanstalk, but they seem to think it is some kind of weapon.
Interesting Facts
Activity:PoetryKS1 (P3-P4)/ KS2 (P5-P7)
• An acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letter or word of each line spells out a message. • Try writing an acrostic poem using the word ‘Beanstalk’…
BEANSTALK
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KS3 (YEAR 8-10) • A Limerick is a poem where the first 2 lines rhyme, the second 2 lines rhyme and the final line rhymes with the first 2. For example:
There was an old lady from Derry,Who swallowed a magical berry,
In more than an hour,Her head grew a flower,
And on each petal then grew a cherry!
• Try to write a limerick beginning with the line…
There was a young lad called Jack
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KS1 (P3-P4)/ KS2 (P5-P7)Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. All they had was a cow. One morning, Jack’s mother told Jack to take their cow to market and sell her. On the way, Jack met an old man. He gave Jack some magic beans for the cow. Jack took the beans and went back home. When Jack’s mother saw the beans she was very angry. She threw the beans out of the window.
The next morning, Jack looked out of the window. There was a giant beanstalk. He went outside and started to climb the beanstalk. He climbed up to the sky through the clouds. Jack saw a beautiful castle. He went inside. Jack heard a voice.
‘Fee, fi, fo, fum!’
Jack ran into a cupboard. An enormous giant came into the room and sat down. On the table there was a hen and a golden harp. ‘Lay!’ said the giant. The hen laid an egg. It was made of gold. ‘Sing!’ said the giant. The harp began to sing. Soon the giant was asleep.
Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the hen and the harp. Suddenly, the harp sang, ‘Help, master!’ The giant woke up and shouted, ‘Fee, fi, fo, fum!’ Jack ran and started climb-ing down the beanstalk. The giant came down after him.
Jack shouted, ‘Mother! Help!’ Jack’s mother took an axe and chopped down the beanstalk. The giant fell and crashed to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again. With the golden eggs and the magic harp, Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.
Jack and the Beanstalk- Original Story (Shortened)
Activity:Read the story aloud.
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Jack and the Beanstalk- Original Story (Shortened) Comprehension Exercise1. Who does Jack live with?2. What animal does Jack sell at the beginning of the story?3. What does Jack receive at the market from the old man?4. What did Jack see when he climbed up the beanstalk and through the clouds?5. Where did Jack run into when he heard the voice call “fee, fi, fo fum”?6. What instrument was on the table?7. What woke the giant up?8. What tool did Jack use to chop the beanstalk?9. What happened to the giant after Jack chopped the beanstalk?10. Why do you think Jack and his mother lived happily ever after?
KS3 (Year 8-10)Once upon a time, there lived a widow woman and her son, Jack, on their small farm in the country. Every day, Jack would help his mother with the chores - chopping the wood, weeding the garden and milking the cow. But despite all their hard work, Jack and his mother were very poor with barely enough money to keep themselves fed. “What shall we do, what shall we do?” said the widow, one spring day. “We don’t have enough money to buy seed for the farm this year! We must sell our cow, Old Daisy, and with the money buy enough seed to plant a good crop.” “All right, mother,” said Jack, “it is market-day today. I’ll go into town and sell Daisy.” So Jack took the cow’s halter in his hand, walked through the garden gate and headed off toward town.
He hadn’t gone far when he met a funny-looking, old man who said to him, “Good morning, Jack.” “Good morning to you,” said Jack, wondering how the little, old man knew his name. “Where are you off to this fine morning?” asked the man. “I’m going to market to sell our cow, Daisy.” “Well what a helpful son you are!” exclaimed the man, “I have a special deal for such a good boy like you.” The little, old man looked around to make sure no one was watching and then opened his hand to show Jack what he held. “Beans?” asked Jack, looking a little confused. “Three magical bean seeds to be exact, young man. One, two, three! So magical are they, that if you plant them over-night, by morning they grow right up to the sky,” promised the funny little man. “And because you’re such a good boy, they’re all yours in trade for that old milking cow.” “Really?” said Jack, “and you’re quite sure they’re magical?” “I am indeed! And if it doesn’t turn out to be true you can have your cow back.” “Well that sounds fair,” said Jack, as he handed over Bessy’s halter, pocketed the beans and headed back home to show his mother.
“Back already, Jack?” asked his mother; “I see you haven’t got Old Daisy -- you’ve sold her so quickly. How much did you get for her?” Jack smiled and reached into his pocket, “Just look at these beans, mother; they’re magical, plant them over-night and----” “What!” cried Jack’s mother. “Oh, silly boy! How could you give away our milking cow for three measly beans.” And with that she did the worst thing Jack had ever seen her do - she burst into
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tears.
Jack ran upstairs to his little room in the attic, so sorry he was, and threw the beans angrily out the window thinking, “How could I have been so foolish - I’ve broken my mother’s heart.” After much tossing and turning, at last Jack dropped off to sleep.
When Jack woke up the next morning, his room looked strange. The sun was shining into part of it like it normally did, and yet all the rest was quite dark and shady. So Jack jumped up and dressed himself and went to the window. And what do you think he saw? Why, the beans he had thrown out of the window into the garden had sprung up into a big beanstalk which went up and up and up until it reached the sky. Using the leaves and twisty vines like the rungs of a ladder, Jack climbed and climbed until at last, he reached the sky. And when he got there he found a long, broad road winding its way through the clouds to a tall, square castle off in the distance.
Jack ran up the road toward the castle and just as he reached it, the door swung open to reveal a horrible lady giant, with one great eye in the middle of her forehead. As soon as Jack saw her he turned to run away, but she caught him, and dragged him into the castle.“Don’t be in such a hurry, I’m sure a growing boy like you would like a nice, big breakfast,” said the great, big, tall woman, “It’s been so long since I got to make breakfast for a boy.” Well, the lady giant wasn’t such a bad sort, after all -- even if she was a bit odd. She took Jack into the kitchen, and gave him a chunk of cheese and a glass of milk. But Jack had only taken a few bites when
thump! thump! thump!
The whole house began to tremble with the noise of someone coming. “Goodness gracious me! It’s my husband,” said the giant woman, wringing her hands, “what on earth shall I do? There’s nothing he likes better than boys boiled on toast and I haven’t any bread left. Oh dear, I never should have let you stay for breakfast. Here, come quick and jump in here.” And she hurried Jack into a large copper pot sitting beside the stove just as her hus-band, the giant, came in.He ducked inside the kitchen and said, “I’m ready for my breakfast -- I’m so hungry I could eat three cows. Ah, what’s this I smell?
Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman, Be he alive, or be he dead I’ll have his bones to grind my bread.
“Nonsense, dear,” said his wife, “we haven’t had a boy for breakfast in years. Now you go and wash up and by the time you come back your breakfast’ll be ready for you.” So the gi-ant went off to tidy up -- Jack was about to make a run for it when the woman stopped him. “Wait until he’s asleep,” she said, “he always has a little snooze after breakfast.”
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Jack peeked out of the copper pot just as the giant returned to the kitchen carrying a basket filled with golden eggs and a sickly-looking, white hen. The giant poked the hen and growled, “Lay” and the hen laid an egg made of gold which the giant added to the basket.
After his breakfast, the giant went to the closet and pulled out a golden harp with the face of a sad, young girl. The giant poked the harp and growled, “Play” and the harp began to play a gentle tune while her lovely face sang a lullaby. Then the giant began to nod his head and to snore until the house shook.
When he was quite sure the giant was asleep, Jack crept out of the copper pot and began to tiptoe out of the kitchen. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the sound of the harp-girl weeping. Jack bit his lip, sighed and returned to the kitchen. He grabbed the sickly hen and the singing harp, and began to tiptoe back out. But this time the hen gave a cackle which woke the giant, and just as Jack got out of the house he heard him calling, “Wife, wife, what have you done with my white hen and my golden harp?” Jack ran as fast as he could and the giant, realising he had been tricked, came rushing after - away fromthe castle and down the broad, winding road.
When he got to the beanstalk the giant was only twenty yards away when suddenly he saw Jack disappear - confused, the giant peered through the clouds and saw Jack underneath climbing down for dear life. The giant stomped his foot and roared angrily.
Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman, Be he alive, or be he dead I’ll have his bones to grind my bread.
The giant swung himself down onto the beanstalk which shook with his weight. Jack slipped, slid and climbed down the beanstalk as quickly as he could, and after him climbed the giant.
As he neared the bottom, Jack called out, “Mother! Please! Hurry, bring me an axe, bring me an axe.” And his mother came rushing out with Jack’s wood chopping axe in her hand, but when she came to the enormous beanstalk she stood stock still with fright. Jack jumped down, got hold of the axe and began to chop away at the beanstalk. Luckily, because of all the chores he’d done over the years, he’d become quite good at chopping and it didn’t take long for him to chop through enough of the beanstalk that it began to teeter. The giant felt the beanstalk shake and quiver so he stopped to see what thematter was. Then Jack gave one last big chop with the axe, and the beanstalk began to topple over. Then the giant fell down and broke his crown, and the beanstalk came toppling after.
The singing harp thanked Jack for rescuing her from the giant - she had hated being locked up in the closet all day and night and wanted nothing more than to sit in the
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farmhouse window and sing to the birds and the butterflies in the sunshine.With a bit of patience and his mother’s help, it didn’t take long for Jack to get the sickly hen back in good health and the grateful hen continued to lay a fresh golden egg every day.
Jack used the money from selling the golden eggs to buy back Old Daisy, purchase seed for the spring crop and to fix up his mother’s farm. He even had enough left over to invite every one of his neighbours over for a nice meal, complete with music from the singing harp. And so Jack, his mother, Old Daisy, the golden harp and the white hen lived happy ever after.
Comprehension Exercise1. Find the word in the first paragraph that means: “a woman who has lost her
spouse by death and has not married again.”2. What chores does Jack help his Mother with?3. Why must Jack sell Old Daisy?4. What word is used for “a strap or rope placed around the head of a horse or
other animal”?5. What word in the text means meager, miserly, miserable, paltry or pitiful?6. What did Jack use to climb the beanstalk which acted as the “the rungs of a
ladder”? What phrase in the text would describe a “CYCLOPS”?7. What is the giant’s favourite breakfast according to his wife?8. Where did the lady giant hide Jack?9. What are the giant’s two prized possessions which Jack steals?10. “He’d become quite good at chopping and it didn’t take long for him to chop
through enough of the beanstalk that it began to teeter.” –Rewrite this sentence and find another word/phrase for “teeter”.
11. What did Jack buy with the money he’d made from selling the golden eggs?
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KS1 (P3-P4)/ KS2 (P5-P7)
1) Who does Jack live with? (Answer: His Mother)2) What animal does Jack sell at the beginning of the story? (Answer: A cow)3) What does Jack receive at the market from the old man? (Answer: Magic beans)4) What did Jack see when he climbed up the beanstalk and through the clouds? (Answer: A castle)5) Where did Jack run into when he heard the voice call “fee, fi, fo fum”? (Answer: A cupboard)6) What instrument was on the table? (Answer: A harp)7) What woke the giant up? (Answer: the harp sang, ‘Help, master!’)8) What tool did Jack use to chop the beanstalk? (Answer: An axe)9) What happened to the giant after Jack chopped the beanstalk? (Answer: The giant fell and crashed to the ground.)10) Why do you think Jack and his mother lived happily ever after? Answers may vary e.g.because the giant is dead, because he has a magical harp, because he can sell golden eggs and become rich etc etc.
Comprehension Exercise Answers
KS3 (YEAR 8-10)
1) Find the word in the first paragraph that means: “a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not married again.” (Answer: Widow)2) What chores does Jack help his Mother with? (Answer: Chopping the wood, weeding the garden and milking the cow.)3) Why must Jack sell Old Daisy? (Answer: They don’t have enough money to buy seed for the farm this year)4) What word is used for “a strap or rope placed around the head of a horse or other animal”? (Answer: Halter)5) What word in the text means meager, miserly, miserable, paltry or pitiful? (Answer: measly)6) What did Jack use to climb the beanstalk which acted as the “the rungs of a ladder”? (Answer: the leaves and twisty vines)7) What phrase in the text would describe a “CYCLOPS”? (Answer: giant, with one great eye in the middle of her forehead)
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8) What is the giant’s favourite breakfast according to his wife? (Answer: boys boiled on toast)9) Where did the lady giant hide Jack? (Answer: in a large copper pot)10) What are the giant’s two prized possessions which Jack steals? (Answer: white hen and golden harp)11) “He’d become quite good at chopping and it didn’t take long for him to chop through enough of the beanstalk that it began to teeter.” –Rewrite this sentence and find anotherword/phrase for “teeter”. (Answers may vary, teeter= sway, swing, veer, wobble)12) What did Jack buy with the money he’d made from selling the golden eggs? (Answer: Buy back Old Daisy, purchase seed for the spring crop and to fix up his mother’s farm. He even had enough left over to invite every one of his neighbours over for a nice meal)
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Cave Men 2.5 million years ago
The art of ‘acting out’ stories started centuries ago. We know fromcave paintings that cave men used to dance and act out stories ofhunts to please their Sun Gods.
Brief History of Drama
Egyptians 16th - 11th Century BCE
The Egyptians were the first people to make a record of the plays they performed. The Egyptians had lots of gods to whom they performed plays, in the hope that the performances would make them happy. They wrote about these plays using hieroglyphics.*
*The Egyptian equivalent of writing using pictures instead of words
Greeks 8th - 6th Century BCE
The Greeks were the first people to build Theatres which they called Amphitheatres. They could hold thousands of people and were semicircular in shape. The Greeks worshipped a god called Dionysus who was the god of fun. During the Festival of Dionysus plays would be performed by the people of the town. The amphitheatres were so big that the story had to be shouted out and the main characters had to wear huge masks so they could be seen. We know a lot about Greek theatre as the Greeks were the first people to write their plays down in the form of a script.
Medieval 5th - 15th Century
In Medieval times plays were often linked to religion. Stories about God were acted out in churches and many towns held religious festivals every year where the townsfolk would act out scenes from the Bible. These plays became known as the ‘mystery plays’. The scenes acted out often included juggling, comedy, wrestling, archery and stone throwing. The ‘mystery plays’ proved to be very popular, and it was not long before rich land owners started to pay people to perform for them.
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Elizabethan 1558 - 1603
By Elizabethan times all actors were professional and worked in companies, the most famous being the Kings Men, who William Shakespeare wrote plays for. Acting companies would tour from town to town performing up to 38 different plays a year and sometimes a different play every day.
Victorian 1837 - 1901
By Victorian times drama was very popular and theatres were built in most towns. The types of plays shown became far more realistic and companies sometimes performed them over several nights. It was in Victorian times that pantomimes first became popular as an entertainment for Christmas, a tradition that continues today. It was not until the end of the Victorian age that women were allowed to act on stage; before then it was thought to bean improper thing for a lady to do. Young men acted out female roles, which is a tradition that has stuck in pantomime to this day!
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KS1 (P3-P4)Definition of a PantomimeA play for children performed during the Christmas season that is based on a fairy tale and includes singing and dancing.
• Pantomime is a unique British tradition commonly found in theatres up and down the UK and beyond throughout the winter period.
Q: What is a tradition?A: Passing on of customs or beliefs from generation to generation and/or a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time
KS2 (P5-P7)Definition of a PantomimeA play for children performed during the Christmas season that is based on a fairy tale and includes singing and dancing.
What is a Pantomime? • Pantomime is a unique British tradition commonly found in theatres up and down the UK and beyond throughout the winter period. • In fact, Pantomime has become a British institution but its origins are from beyond British shores. • The pantomime we see today can be distinguished by its dramatisation of a classic fairytale told through the use of eccentric characters and absurd situations. It’s a place where men dress as women and women dress as men, where good triumphs over evil and the audience are as much a part of the action as the pantomime cow, the beanstalk or the magic beans. • The stories are told with a gigantic emotional heart through the use of acting, song, dance and intriguing illusions and magic. • These fun, colourful and dynamic productions actively encourage audience participation, expertly combining the tradition of theatre pantomime with up to date and age appropriate humour, music and themes. • Wonderful costumes, superb scenery and magical special effects all combine to deliver an electric atmosphere and guarantee audiences a truly imaginative, enthralling journey into the enchanting world that is Pantomime.
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KS3 (Year 8-10)Definition of a PantomimeA theatrical entertainment, mainly for children, which involves music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy and is based on a fairy tale, usually produced around Christmas time.
Brief History of Pantomime • It is thought that a man called John Weaver presented the first pantomime in London in 1702. • It was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre, London and was called The Cheats or The Tavern Bikers. • Jack and the Beanstalk was first performed as a pantomime at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1819. • In British theatre, pantomime is traditionally a Christmas or New Year entertainment. • Greek pantomimos “actor,” literally “imitator of all,” from panto- (genitive of pan) “all” (see pan) + mimos “imitator.” • During Roman times pantomimes were stories told through dance, with no words at all. • Modern pantomime characters can be traced back to the 16th and 17th Century when the Italians improvised comic drama called Commedia dell’arte. • One of the central characters of a commedia pantomime was Harlequin, who was a clown that usually narrated the story. • As pantomimes used classic fairy tales more and more, the role of Harlequin diminished until he disappeared. • New elements were added to the mix, such as slapstick* (comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events) and double entendre*(a word or phrase open to two interpretations). • Popular songs, topical humour and satire found their way into the script from the influence of British Music Hall as did audience participation and guest appearances by popular entertainers of the day. • Pantomimes today usually includes certain elements: ✓ A man dressed as a woman to play the dame. ✓ A theme of good conquering evil. ✓ Singing ✓ Audience participation. ✓ Call Out and Response Repeating dialogue ✓ Getting Up On Stage ✓ Colourful sets and costumes.
Did you know???Good characters traditionally enter from stage right and evil characters enter from stage left? This tradition goes back to echo medieval times, when the entrances to heaven and hell were placed on these side.
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A wide range of theatre professionals are employed to create a Pantomime. This is what each of them does:
The Playwright/ Dramatist are commissioned by the Production Company to write the script.
The Director is responsible for making decisions about the script with the writer, for working with the Designer on the style of the set and costumes and for making sure the actors know what to do and where to go. He or she has overall responsibility for putting the production together and will lead rehearsals with the cast.
The Actors are chosen at auditions for their suitability for a role. They have to be able to play a character convincingly and they need strong musical skills – and the stamina to perform up to 12 shows every week.
Understudy – either an actor playing a small part, or an ASM, who has learned and rehearsed the part of one of the leading actors to take over from them in the event of illness etc.
The Musical Director teaches songs and music to the cast, hires the band and writes the musical arrangements and orchestrations.
The Designer creates the set and costumes.
The Choreographer creates the dance steps and movement for the production and teach-es the cast the choreography.
The Lighting Designer creates lighting effects for the show.
The Stage Manager and Technical Crew make sure that performances run smoothly and are responsible for operating everything back stage.
The Stage Manager will make sure, for example, that all the props are in the right place at the start of the show and will also help to clean the stage afterwards.
Marketing and Publicity Staff make sure that everybody knows about the show by producing leaflets and programmes, and putting adverts in the newspapers/social media/website.
The Box Office Staff are responsible for selling tickets to the public.
The Front of House Staff are responsible for selling programmes and refreshments and for showing you to your seat.
Who makes a Pantomime?
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The world of theatre has its own terms and vocabulary, like any other industry we have certain words that we use when working in the theatre. How many of these have you heard before?
AuditoriumThe auditorium is the area of the theatre where the audience sits to watch the performance.
Interval This is a ‘break’ from the performance which allows the audience to buy snacks, visit the toilets and stretch their legs. This takes place in the middle of the performance and usually lasts around 15 minutes.
Curtain CallA Curtain Call occurs at the end of the performance when the cast return on to the stage to be recognised by the audience for their efforts. This is often knows as ‘The Bows’ or ‘The Walkdown’ when the audience clap and cheer for the actors.
BlackoutThis is a moment in the performance when all of the lights must be turned out to prevent the audience from seeing a scene change. When the lights resume the set is often changed and the stage looks completely different.
FadeA fade in the lights is when the lights are dimmed slowly, this allows the scene to gradually enter a black out or new light setting.
FlatA Flat is a tall piece of scenery which is positioned at both sides of the stage to create the effect that there are buildings or other backgrounds. When multiple flats are located each side it creates pathways for the actors to enter and exit in.
WingsThese are located at each side of the stage, this is where the actors wait before entering the stage. Props and Set are kept in the wings along with any costumes needed for quick changes during the performance.
Stage DoorThe stage door is an entrance and exit exclusive to the cast and crew, the cast are not allowed to use the Front of House doors that the audience use. Many people often wait at the stage door to meet the cast after the performance.
GreenroomA Greenroom is a room located in a theatre or studio which allows the actors to relax in between shows and performances.
Vocabulary Sheet
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Vocabulary SheetTo help you understand more about theatre below are a list of theatrical terms alongside a brief description of what each is/does.
Amplifier- Sound term. A piece of equipment which amplifies or increases the sound captured by a microphone or replayed from record, CD or tape. Each loudspeaker needs a separate amplifier.Apron- In a traditional theatre, the part of the stage which projects in front of the curtain.Blackout- Lighting term: switching all lights out at once, leaving the stage in complete darkness.Cast- The list of characters in a play and the actors who play them. Also, as a verb, to allo-cate parts to members of a company.Cheat- To make an action on stage look realistic without actually doing what you seem to be doing; e.g. an actor looking towards the audience in the general direction of the person he is talking to, is cheating.Corpse- Not a dead body in a thriller! An actor who gets an unintended and uncontrollable fit of laughter on stage is said to “corpse”.Fly- scenery which is raised into the roof (flown out) or lowered on the stage (flown in). The apparatus consists of a series of ropes and pulleys in the fly tower (a very high roof space) and they raise or lower the scenery by means of a counterweight system or by directly pulling on hemp lines. The people who operate the flies are called flymen and the area in which they work is called the fly floor or, quite simply, the flies.Follow Spot- a type of spotlight with an iris and a handle so that it can be used to follow a performer around the stage in a beam of light of exactly the right size. Traditionally called a “lime”: hence the term “being in the limelight”!Footlights- a series of lights placed on the stage floor along the front of the stage.Proscenium Arch- the actual opening of a proscenium stage which serves as the frame for the audience.Reprise- musical term: to repeat, in whole or part, a song which has already been sung in the show.Safety Curtain- a curtain of fireproofed material usually with a metal frame, which covers the entire proscenium opening and acts as a firebreak between the stage and the auditorium.Set- the scenery for a particular show or individual scene.Stage Left- on the right side of a stage from the point of view of a performer facing the audienceStage Right- on the left side of a stage from the point of view of a performer facing the audience
Did you know???When a production does badly and fails to please the public it is said to “die.”A production which does well however, is said to make a “killing.”
Glossary of Theatrical Terms
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Producing a Pantomime is a yearlong process, which involves lots of planning and preparation.
January This year’s pantomime story is selected. The Writer, Director and Designers are hired.
February The writer begins to write the script.
March Tickets go on sale to schools and group bookers, before going on sale to the public. Some Lead performers are cast.
April The first Pantomime advert goes in the Brochure. The first draft of the script is submitted.
May A Production Meeting takes place, where the production team discuss the styles and themes of the show. The costume and set design begins.
June Casting Calls are issued for the main cast.
July Main cast auditions take place.
August Final casting is announced.
September The Writer, Director and Designers have a production meeting to discuss set and costume designs.
October Cast receive their contracts. Pantomime adverts begin to appear in local press, magazines and on buses.
November Rehearsals start Pantomime Workshop practitioners start visiting schools The Pantomime opens on the last weekend.
December The Pantomime is performed on 27 out of 31 days. The theatre closes for one day on Christmas!
TIMELINE of making a panto
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TIMELINE of making a pantoTo put it simply, the theme is the main topic (or topics) at the centre of the story.
If a story’s ‘plot’ is said to be the events that happen within it, then by comparison the ‘theme’ is what the story is ‘about’.
To use the most famous of examples: the plot of Romeo and Juliet is two young lovers from feuding families falling in love, and ultimately dying as the result of some tragic and unfortunate events.
Some of the major themes of the story could therefore be described as Love, Fate and Family (among many others).
Another common mistake is to limit the definition of theme to ‘the moral of the story’.
The difference is that while a moral must be a specific lesson or point that the author is said to be making, a theme can be more general – an idea or topic that reappears throughout a story. A moral can be a theme, but a theme doesn’t have to be a moral.
Good Vs. Evil • Maybe the most simple (and therefore popular) set-up for a tale is the classic theme of good vs. evil. Our pantomime shows this theme as it features a righteous and courageous hero (Jack) taking on a villain who is in some way immoral or corrupt (Flesh Creep). • In the vast majority of cases, good triumphs over evil but you will have to watch our panto to see how it all pans out!
Overcoming the odds • Usually described as “feel-good” factor, works with this theme portray a character’s triumph in the face of adversity, as they overcome some seemingly insurmountable obstacle or challenge. • In the case of our pantomime, can you think of what adversity Jack faces?
Love • The story Jack and the Beanstalk is unusual in that it does not traditionally have a female love interest, which sets it apart from many other pantomimes • To help the story follow the expected pattern of a modern Pantomime, many productions include a girl named Jill – from the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill – who is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Giant, which encourages Jack to climb the beanstalk and rescue her… Will our Jill play the same role? You will have to wait and see…
Themes in Jack and the Beanstalk
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Traditional Pantomimes are easily recognisable nowadays for their use of stock characters, scenes and audience participation. In the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, you will be able to spot all the typical pantomime characters such as:
Pantomime Characters
The Principal BoyThis year’s principal boy is Jack McCann. In traditional
pantomime, the lead boy used to be played by a female actor. The principal boy is brave, heroic and adventurous.
They will often be drawn into a quest to rescue theheroine of the story, defeating the villain along the way. Principal Boy characters include Dick Whittington, Jack,
Aladdin and Prince Charming.
The DameOur Dame this year is William Caulfield. An older female
character played by a man, who is usually very comic and over the top. The best Pantomime Dames are recognisable as men
playing a woman, rather than a man attempting to pass as a woman. The role of the Dame has increased over the years.
Where the Dame would originally have worn a hat and shawl throughout the performance, the actor may
now have up to 15 costume changes! Dame characters include Widow Twankey in Aladdin.
Our dame is Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk.
The HeroineThis year’s heroine is Sharon Duffy. Traditionally the
heroine was girlish and innocent, and often becomes a Princess at the end of the story. In recent years,
Pantomimes have moved more with the times and the heroines have been updated to be individual, powerful female characters that can affect the story and save the
day for themselves.
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Pantomime Characters
The ComicConor O’Kane is playing this year’s Silly Billy! Every pantomime has a silly character
that tries to help the Hero or Heroine, but gets everything wrong along the way. They are normally the Dame’s child and need a lot of help from the audience during the
show. The Comic Character is often played by professional comedians or clowns.
The VillainMeet James Lecky- this year’s villain! Every Fairytale and
Pantomime story has a bad character that the Hero or Heroine has to defeat to save the day. The Villains are often driven by
greed and a desire for power, and usually either use bad magic or are in some way grotesque. In Sleeping
Beauty and Aladdin the Villains are often characters who possess magic powers who long for power
over the kingdom. In Jack and the Beanstalk, the ultimate Villain is usually a Giant who sends his
henchman to steal from the villagers, and threatens to grind men’s bones to make his bread but in
our version, we have Flesh Creep- a spiteful scoundrel indeed!
The Good Fairy/GenieThis is Orla Mullan and she is this year’s good fairy. In
every Pantomime story, the Hero has a magic helper, who guides them on their journey and provides some helping
magic. Most stories have a Good Fairy, who use theirpowers to support the Hero and help to save the day.
In The Good Fairy always wears a very sparkly, glittering costume and often has a tiara or embellished jewelry.
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Pantomime is a show for all the family, and there are lots of elements to appeal to all ages. A Pantomime should be fun, involving and entertaining and should encourage lots of audience interaction – including characters coming into the auditorium, shout-outs, songs, sing-alongs and much more! Some of the elements you should expect to see in the pantomime are:
The Slosh SceneDuring the pantomime, there is usually a very messy scene called the ‘Slosh’ scene. This is a scene where the Dame and the Comic character, and maybe one or two others, make a lot of mess on stage – usually making a cake, or decorating. The scene can take any form, but the aim is to get as messy as possible!
Audience ParticipationThe audience are encouraged to shout out responses to lines from the show. These can include “He’s behind you!”, “Oh yes it is/Oh no it isn’t” and often shouting the name of the Comic Character to get their attention. The audience are also encouraged to boo the villain whenever they enter, exit or do something bad. It’s important to remind younger audience members not to just shout for the whole performance – otherwise they might miss something!
Sing-along SongAt the end of the play, the Dame and the Comic Character will come out and sing a short section of one of the songs from the Pantomime or a popular song that people know and love. They will encourage the audience to sing along and join in with the actions. Often this song will lead to a competition to see which half of the audience is the loudest.
The Walk DownWhen the Pantomime has finished, the actors will perform a walk down and take a bow to show that the show has reached its conclusion. The characters will then say a short conclusion before reprising a few numbers from the show. The walk down is a more fun, vibrant version of a normal Curtain Call which happens at the end of a play, and is usually set at the wedding of the Hero and Heroine, so expect lavish, colourful costumes and lots of smiles.
AnimalsEvery pantomime has a lot of animal characters – Jack and the Beanstalk has the cow, Dick Whittington has many rats, Cinderella has horses, mice, rats and lizard. The animals are a good opportunity to showcase the abilities of the younger dancers in the pantomime.
The Spectacle SceneTheatre’s Pantomimes have at least one show-stopping scene. In recent years, Cinderella’s kitchen transformed into a magical carriage with moving horses, Aladdin took Princess Jasmine for a high-flying ride over Old Peking on his Magic Carpet, and Dick Whittington dove into the sea to fight a Giant Squid. The scenes are spectacular to watch and are enjoyed by all.
Pantomime Traditions
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Pantomime Traditions
Blue
Red
Green
Yellow
White
Black
Brown
Purple
Pink
Orange
Sad, calm, coldExample
KS1 (P3-P4)B E A D E S I G N E R
The role of a Designer is to take the story on the page and give it a visual style. The Designer needs to make everything work together, as well as creating costumes which suit each character’s personality.
We associate colours with meanings and feelings, and this is an important part of costume design. Fill in the table below with a word that you associate to each colour. Colour Meaning Example:
Choose a character from Jack and the Beanstalk. What do you think they are like as a person? Choose 5 adjectives (describing words) which suit the character you have chosen:
1.___________________ 2.___________________ 3.___________________
4.___________________ 5.___________________Is the character you have chosen a Good Character or a Bad Character?Pick 3 colours which best describe your character, think about why you chose these colours.
1.___________________ 2.___________________ 3.___________________
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B E A N A C T O R
Acting for a Pantomime is all about playing up the characters as big as possible, making them larger than life and exaggerated.
KS1 Acting Exercises:
1) Describing WordsSay the name of a character and have the group suggest describing words – try toencourage words which describe the character’s personality, avoiding words aboutappearance which can be subjective. Choose two or three words and ask the group to show that word with their body. Encourage them to think about different ways of showing a word so that there are different examples. This exercise should encourage physicality and thinking about how to display emotions through gesture.
2) Still ImagesSplit the class into smaller groups of 4 or 5. Give the groups a moment from the story – Jack selling the cow, Jack climbing the Beanstalk, Jack rescuing Jill from the Giant – and have the group create still images which show the moment you have given. Encourage them to see how the same moment can be shown in different ways.
KS2 Acting Exercises:
1) Role PlaySplit the class into groups of 3 or 4 and assign characters who could reasonably exist on the edge of the story of the pantomime. Have the group create a short scene where they act as those characters having a conversation about an event of the play – Villagers in Jack’s Village talking about the beanstalk that has grown overnight, Market Traders talking about the cow they’ve seen Jack trying to sell, Villagers whose house has been squashed by the Giant falling from the Beanstalk. Encourage the group to think outside the story and think how they would react in the situation.
2) Dumb ShowCover the story with the group to ensure they understand the basic outline. Split the class into groups of 5 or 6 and have them act out a silent version of the pantomime. Make sure that they make it clear which character they are playing through their physicality and facial expression. This exercise will help the children to understand how exaggeration and gesture are used to create comedy and larger-than-life characters.
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KS1 Writing Exercises:
Rhyming GameSome characters in the pantomime speak in rhyme. Fill in the story below choosing which words best rhyme and finish the each line.
Jack, our Hero, lived in Town with his lovely mum, Dame Trot But they were
feeling very ___________, because they haven’t got a ____________ One day
when they were very Poor, they needed funds Somehow They couldn’t bear it
any _________, and had to sell their ____________ Choose from the
words below:
More Down Cow Lot
KS2 Writing Exercises:
Be a CriticA critic is a person who comes to see a show and writes a Review, which tells people whether the show is worth seeing or not. A good critic can cover the basic story and sum up the production – the good things and the things which can be improved – clearly and understandably, without being mean or insulting specific people.
1) Try writing a review for a show you’ve been to see/ for the Pantomime - Make sure you tell the reader: the name of the show and where it is on; a brief outline of the story; what you liked; who the best people in the show were; what you would maybe have liked to see; how long the show is on for.
1) Write about a Pantomime Experience - Think about your visit to the Pantomime. Remember how the stage was lit, what the costumes were like, how many backdrops there were, what food and drink you could see on sale. Now imagine that you are a child from 100 years ago. Think about how a visit to the theatre would have been different 100 years ago. Write a short story about visiting the theatre – remember to talk about what you can see, hear and smell, what the atmosphere is like. Try not to talk about the Modern Day, and only talk about what a child 100 years ago would see and understand.
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KS1/2 Activity
On the page below, write a letter to the Giant from Jack, saying sorry for stealing.
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For the chance to win two family tickets to Jack and the Beanstalk for the Saturday 2nd of December at 2pm show and a £50 voucher for Richmond Shopping Centre, simply colour in the picture below, fill in your details and return your entry by post to Education Officer, Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6EB or by dropping it in to our Box Office by Monday 27th of November. Entries will be displayed in a public area in the Millennium Forum.
NAME __________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ POSTCODE ___________________
TEL _______________________________ EMAIL _______________________________________
WIN TWO FAMILY TICKETS to Jack and the Beanstalk at the Millennium Forum!
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KS1/2 Maths Activity
More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets Copyright © 2011-2012 by Education.com2012-20132013-2014
1.+ =
2.+ =
4.+ =
5.+ =
Add It Up! With JackHelp Jack add up the items below
by counting them aloud.
3.+ =
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Jack and the Beanstalk Anagrams
Unjumble the words below to find words from the pantomime!
JKAC
LIJL
MEDA RTTO
YASDI
MGAIC NSBEA
KLBANEST
LTSCAE
PTOMENMIA
NIGAT
LOGDNE GEG
RPHA
LLAIVI
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Find the Words
BEANS BEANSTALK DAISY GIANT JACK JILL MAGIC
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C T J P Y Y U M Q P V I H S I
V I H A S X G Z E H Z J K N R
V X G I C U G I A N T Y K A P
U U A A J K D B R T M D K E X
B D G N M L A S M X Q D O B U
D M J Z S R L G U Y F E N K Y
C R M M O L C K V U T L T B B
E U R K T I D W G L G M X M T
K L A T S N A E B Q T F Z W J
P G Y R F Q P V N K H W L B I
P P P O G H R C O T P X T S L
I E W S P Q R X H Y A J O N L
I K Q U I L S H B W Z K F D D
D P M Y F W K G J P T W Z P T
H U G R B D M K V E Q L K L U
BEANS BEANSTALK DAISYGIANT JACK JILLMAGIC
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Anagram answers
1) JACK 2) JILL 3) DAME TROT 4) DAISY5) MAGIC BEANS 6) BEANSTALK 7) CASTLE 8) PANTOMIME9) GIANT 10) GOLDEN EGG 11) HARP 12) VILLAIN
Find the Word answers
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C T J P Y Y U M Q P V I H S I
V I H A S X G Z E H Z J K N R
V X G I C U G I A N T Y K A P
U U A A J K D B R T M D K E X
B D G N M L A S M X Q D O B U
D M J Z S R L G U Y F E N K Y
C R M M O L C K V U T L T B B
E U R K T I D W G L G M X M T
K L A T S N A E B Q T F Z W J
P G Y R F Q P V N K H W L B I
P P P O G H R C O T P X T S L
I E W S P Q R X H Y A J O N L
I K Q U I L S H B W Z K F D D
D P M Y F W K G J P T W Z P T
H U G R B D M K V E Q L K L U
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KS3 Activity
Writing a ReviewA critic is someone who comes to see a show and then writes a review, telling people what was good about the show and whether or not it was enjoyable. Here’s some tips about how to write a good review… • Tell people the name of the show, where it’s on and when • Give a brief outline of the story • What was your response? Was it enjoyable? Why? • Comment on the design, lighting, costume, direction • Which performances were your favourite and why? • What did other people in the audience think of the show?
Following these guidelines, try writing a review of Jack and the Beanstalk. Think about what you saw and heard and how that made you feel. There is no right or wrong way to write a review, be honest about what you thought of the show but always remember to be fair and constructive with your critique.
Be a DramatistWhen we see a play the story is told to us by living characters on stage in dialogue form.The role of a Dramatist is to take the story and turn it into a play that people can sit and watch. 1. What are the problems encountered by the dramatist when adapting a story for the stage? 2. Why is it not enough just to use words as spoken in the story? 3. Tell the story of the pantomime from the point of view of different characters. 4. Imagine that you are one of the following characters and write a letter: 1. As Jack to his Mother 2. As Jill to Jack 3. As the Giant to Jack, after Jack has taken the Golden Harp 5. Write a poem based on the characters of the pantomime. First map out words or make up a word bank. Then use one of the following ways to write a poem: • A narrative poem with rhymes • A shape poem, for example in the shape of a harp or a beanstalk • An alliterative poem using words which begin with the same letter You could collect these poems into a class book with illustrations, or send them to the Everyman Theatre where we will display them. 6. Write a sequel to Jack and the Beanstalk. 7. Write a fairy story as a class on the computer, adding a sentence each.
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Questions and Points for discussion in class after the pantomime
About the Pantomime• What did you like best about the pantomime?• What do you think the funniest part of the pantomime was?• Who was your favourite character or person in the pantomime?• What was the most exciting part of the pantomime?• Which bit of the pantomime didn’t you like? Why?• What words would you use to describe the pantomime?• What words would you use to describe the songs and music? About the Theatre• What do you like about visiting the theatre?• What don’t you like about visiting the theatre?• What other things can you go and see at the theatre? What have you seen?• Why is going to the theatre different to watching television?
About Performing• If you could be an actor, what would you like to do? Sing? Dance? Act?• If you chose to sing, what type of songs would you like to sing? Love Songs? Pop
Songs?• If you chose to dance, what type of dancing would you choose? Ballet? Pop? Tap?
Disco?
