The Grand Theatre opened on the site of a former drill hall in Singleton Street on the 26th July 1897 by Opera Diva Madame Adelina Patti. This year’s production is the 107th pantomime performed at the Grand, with the first ever performed in December 1897 – Robinson Crusoe.
Pantomime is thought of as a most quintessentially British of theatre productions, but it has a long theatrical history in Western culture dating back to classical theatre. It developed partly from the 16th century commedia dell'arte tradition of Italy and other European and British stage traditions, such as 17th-century masques and music hall.
The play of JM Barry’s Peter Pan was first produced at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London on 27 December 1904, for a limited Christmas engagement of 150 performances. It was not originally a pantomime – and indeed it continued to be performed in a version close to the original text up to the 1950s when it was transformed into a musical, complete with Leonard Bernstein score. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Peter Pan finally morphed into the traditional pantomime format that we know today.
This year’s Grand Theatre production starred Tristan Gemill, best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Casualty. It was also Swansea’s-own Kev John’s 21st consecutive pantomime at the Grand. Kev recently topped the public poll of Swansea’s greatest icons for the city’s 50th anniversary and we surprised him on stage at curtain call during one of the performances to present him with the award.
This evening will also be an opportunity to congratulate Kevin in a more formal manner.
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