A popular time of year across the UK, Canada and Australia and also found in Ireland, Gibraltar, Japan, Malta, and South Africa. Pantomimes are musical comedies usually based off a common fairy tale and are preformed in theaters by professional and amateur performers through the Christmas and New Year season.

Pantomime first came to England in the 16th Century, originally as an introductory performance before Operas and eventually became shows in their own right. As panto developed role-reversal roles also became a part of the show and were linked to twelfth night. Dames are now always played by men and there is always a 'principle boy' where the leading male role is played by a woman.

When it comes to trends Panto is one in it's own right. However some players will have roles that can be linked to their real world lives, where in professional performances celebrities are involved and for amateurs local news and well known habits are written into the script for each cast member.  

I am pleased to share with you an interview with a local costume maker that as well as designing and producing the over the top stage outfits for casts of both amateur and professional drama societies has also co-written pantos for her area. Susan (Widow Twankey) has taken a few moments out of her current busy schedule to talk about her business.

Scarlet: How long have you been making costumes?
Susan: I've been making costumes for amateur dramatics for over 10 years. I have made clothes for the last 40 years!

Scarlet: What got you interested in designing for the stage?
Susan: I started because the group I was with used 'jumble / dressing up clothes' for their productions and I always felt they could be better after seeing professional shows and their costumes. With my training in art I have always been creative and decided to have a go. After which I had a job for life!

Scarlet: What is your favourite type of costume to design?
Susan: I love making dames costumes, feathers, fur, sequins as over the top as possible.
Scarlet: So what is your favourite design to date?
Susan: I am most proud of my Smartie tube made for a dame in County Durham last year. It was technically and artistically a challenge to get the colours and lettering right and the costume to sit level on the shoulders. The brief also said that it had to fold flat as they were a travelling theatre group.The hat (not pictured) was yellow satin over foam as a smartie tube lid. I made a Chinese Dragon for 6 people in Aladdin, 1999. I have also made a covered wagon, a camel and a horse...not that I want to do these again!

Scarlet: What inspires/influences your design ideas?
Susan: I ask the client what the character is like and any relevant part of the story which I can include. For example: the dame with the union jack bodice was for the Ministry of Defence Training Academy Players who wanted a patriotic costume for their dame who kept a tavern at the start of Treasure Island. This year they want a costume for their dame in a jousting scene (King Arthur) with a jockey's colours or a horse theme. I find it easier to design something if I know the character and the scene it is used in.

Scarlet: Your main line is panto, do you have much work between February to August?
Susan: It is usually very quiet with professional companies from February to August but during this time I make the costumes for A Touch of Class, a local drama group, for their pantomime, which I also co-write. This year 22 costumes kept me quite busy. I have also made costumes for shows, like 1960's dresses. I have just acquired a new client who is a dame during the season and a 'drag artiste' during the summer and has requested costumes for his shows. Last year I designed and made a prom dress for a local girl's birthday party.

Thank you Susan for your time.
I hope that you all enjoy the panto season this year, over the top is the key maybe you could integrate this thought into your design in line with your Christmas ranges for more variety.

Images Courtesy of Widow Twankey
First image taken by Brian Bowler on behalf of Widow Twankey