ABSTRACT
Pantomime is a uniquely British artform, with deep European influences and worldwide roots in fairy tale. Far from being passive, the audience can be seen as the final character in the event. This Short argues that pantomime requires the audience and performers to enter into an inter-dependent relationship, including completing the routines (such as the ‘ghost gags’), warning characters of a threat (‘it’s behind you’) and often bringing about the story’s denouement. Drawing on practitioner interviews and personal reflections, the Short also acknowledges Marvin Carlson’s notion of ‘ghosting’ in relation to an audience’s implicit expectation of their role.
