There are lots of ways to write a pantomime and lots of different pantomime titles to choose from. All of them have things in common – most pantos have a dame, and a baddie of some kind. They should all have comedy and songs! But with such a rich cultural history behind it, the writing of pantomimes often varies a lot between different writers.
I’m going to take you through the most popular pantomime titles, some of the more unusual ones, and throw some others into the mix too.
How to pick from the pantomime titles
There are lots of things to consider when picking which pantomime title you’re going to write. Much of it will come down to the needs of your production. You’ll need to consider:
Casting
- How many actors are you writing for?
- Which of the pantomime roles will they typically fill?
- How old are they?
Venue
- What are the technical restrictions of the venue?
- What kind of set will you be able to construct?
- Has this/similar titles been performed at the venue recently/nearby?
- What type of audience does the venue mostly cater to?
Budget
- How well will the title sell?
- Will it pull in a higher ticket price?
- How many set/costume pieces can you afford?
- What set/costume pieces do you already own?
Production Team
- What kind of production team do you have?
- How much capacity do they have?
- How much experience do they have?
Then once you’ve taken these things into consideration, you should be able to narrow down your titles do a smaller number. Then you can decide whether you’re going to go for a traditional title, or a more unusual one.
Popular Pantomime Titles
The list I’ve created here highlights the most popular pantomime titles of recent years. This list has probably changed a lot in the last 50 years with titles dropping in and out, but the mainstays are usually always there.
- Aladdin
- Beauty and the Beast
- Cinderella
- Dick Whittington
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Mother Goose
- Peter Pan
- Robin Hood (Sometimes called ‘Babes in the Wood’)
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Sleeping Beauty
Unusual Pantomime Titles
- Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Hansel and Gretel
- Humpty Dumpty
- King Arthur (Sometimes called ‘Camelot’)
- Pinocchio
- Puss in Boots
- Rapunzel
- Robinson Crusoe
- The Little Mermaid
- The Pied Piper
- The Snow Queen
- The Wizard of Oz
- Treasure Island
- Sinbad the Sailor
There will be many others that I haven’t included on this list. I have previously written a Snow White and the Seven Christmas Elves script for a group! If your favourite or unusual title isn’t included, let me know by sending me an email.