A Pair of Pantos takes the basic story of two archetypical pantomimes – Dick Whittington and Jack & The Beanstalk, creating a world in which their characters and plots meet, collide, intersect, interweave, glide seamlessly in and out of one another, transitioning into whole new territories.
A Pair of Pantos is an alternative winter theatre experience for families excluded and marginalised by ‘cross dressing’ represented as the ultimate punchline. Running at the Marlborough Theatre in Brighton this December as part of their ongoing Growth Spurt programme then reaching London’s Canada Water Theatre and Theatre Deli in Sheffield, this accessible new work, written and directed by Hester Chillingworth, is a fitting finale to The Marlborough’s 2018 programme – 2018 celebrated the theatre’s 10th year as a LGBTQIA performance venue.
Created to redress the balance in the world of pantomime, A Pair of Pantos aims to be a panto for all audiences, but in particular, one which trans, non-binary and queer parents (and non-parents) can feel comfortable and proud to bring children to, and one which trans, non-binary and queer children can feel safe and proud to watch.
Times are hard and Jack is hungry, and so are Jack’s dads. Jack has a fantastic idea for making money but things start to go wildly wrong when the sneaky and contradictory King Rat comes along.  Nobody knows which pantomime they’re in, and on top of all this, Jack is trying to get to the bottom of what underwear is right when you’re non-binary.
Join us for the twists and turns, laughs and loopholes, confusions and connections of a fizzy and funny fight for family, identity and fairness.
Hester Chillingworth, Writer & Director, A Pair of Pantos said ‘Having found myself watching mainstream pantos for a few years in a row recently, I became really uncomfortable with how many rely on devices of casual transphobia (as well as racism). I was looking around me at the families and young children who fill theatres so happily during panto season, and feeling how dangerous and exclusionary it is to unthinkingly peddle these regressive tropes, year in, year out to young audiences. A Pair of Pantos is my attempt to offer an alternative to a traditional pantomime – one which celebrates the form and the joy of the playfulness, but which refuses to rest lazily on problematic and debasing depictions and gags. One which I, as a non-binary child, would have felt safe and celebrated at.’
‘There has been a gap in performance for families and children that represents accurately the LGBTQ community, both in pantomime and other shows. Previously, this has not existed and as a result, children of queer parents and their friends and families are denied the chance to see ourselves in stories, except where the narrative has tragic consequences.’
A Pair of Pantos is at Marlborough Theatre Brighton: 18-20 December, Canada Water Theatre 21-22 December, Theatre Deli Sheffield: 29-30 December.
