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Original poster

Time for Women with Talent to Take Back Older Female Roles in Pantos

516 replies

SpringTimeIsRingTime · 08/02/2026 15:31

Panto Dames have been a thing since 1806 when a certain Mr Simmons decided to play Mother Goose as a Witch (how original) rather than as a caring grandmother figure. Nowadays panto dames are mainly played by gay men in drag.

I think it's time for talented actresses to take back elder female roles from the tired tropes played by men since the Victorian era.

OP posts:
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9
inkymoose · 10/02/2026 09:54

SlightlyUnexpected · 08/02/2026 15:37

Honestly, out of all the places in which older women are underrepresented, I think pantomime dames are the least of our problems.

I enjoyed reading this comment so much that I'm imagining having it made into a framed quotation. Simply brilliant 😂

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/02/2026 09:46

1806 isn’t Victorian times, it’s well before that.

Either way, it’s a very long standing tradition.

Panto dames are one of the main reasons we go to Panto. We actively avoid those who have done away with the dame. We also look for a Panto that has a principle boy, as this is also a tradition (the balancing of the dame role possibly) and many seem to have done away with this.

LVhandbagsatdawn · 10/02/2026 09:46

Instead of complaining about panto dames being played by men, why not put your money where your mouth is and get involved with organising your own community's panto next year? Write a new script or find a suitable older one you like. Add parts for older women. Sort out the casting.

Be the change you wish to see in the world and all that...

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:45

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:43

Do you? Because you’re ignoring the fact that there are other pantomimes than those that attract big stars.
Perhaps you’d benefit from looking at local theatre and smaller theatre groups because you’re doing them a huge disservice with your sweeping generalisations.

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I understand both provincial, west end and major cities and small towns as well as Am drams, I have experience with all types over many decades.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:43

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:39

In Cinderella the main part is normally Buttons and closely followed depending on the cast by the Ugly sisters, Prince, Dandini and Cinderella next step down and unless they have cast a famous female as the star the fairy godmother would be a more minor part. I really do understand this industry very well.

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Do you? Because you’re ignoring the fact that there are other pantomimes than those that attract big stars.
Perhaps you’d benefit from looking at local theatre and smaller theatre groups because you’re doing them a huge disservice with your sweeping generalisations.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:39

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:36

Wrong again. It’s always been a main part and in my experience has mainly been played by an older woman.

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In Cinderella the main part is normally Buttons and closely followed depending on the cast by the Ugly sisters, Prince, Dandini and Cinderella next step down and unless they have cast a famous female as the star the fairy godmother would be a more minor part. I really do understand this industry very well.

ShowMeTheSea · 10/02/2026 09:38

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:36

😂

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So how often do you go to pantomimes then instead of just cry laugh emojing?

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:36

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:35

No it isn’t.
Im starting think that just like the op you’ve never actually seen a pantomime.

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😂

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:36

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:34

She is integral to the story but in panto the fairy godmother is a minor part.

Often played by someone from the chorus.

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Wrong again. It’s always been a main part and in my experience has mainly been played by an older woman.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:35

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:33

It’s clearly not accurate though is it? We go to two pantos a year- a big one in our nearest city and one performed by a theatre company at our local theatre.
I see that there are roles for older women. Your argument doesn’t hold up.

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Great! that’s great news. It’s a shame the wider picture doesn’t replicate this

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:35

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:30

The Fairy God mother is one of the minor parts and you well know that.

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No it isn’t.
Im starting think that just like the op you’ve never actually seen a pantomime.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:34

ShowMeTheSea · 10/02/2026 09:32

Fairy Godmother is a minor part? How do you figure that one out?!
I'd say she was a fairly integral part to the story.
Without her, poor old Cinders would still be scrubbing floors and mucking out chimneys instead of dancing at the ball.
She's not a minor part at all. Genuine question, have you actually been to many pantomimes?!

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She is integral to the story but in panto the fairy godmother is a minor part.

Often played by someone from the chorus.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:33

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:29

I’ve made some very clear arguments show you just how roles are already male and how few are for women.

You chose to say well the five pantos I’ve seen weren’t like that and closed your mind.

The list I wrote is accurate for most pantos nowadays because the traditional swapping of young male character to be played by a woman is out of fashion.

It’s clearly not accurate though is it? We go to two pantos a year- a big one in our nearest city and one performed by a theatre company at our local theatre.
I see that there are roles for older women. Your argument doesn’t hold up.

ShowMeTheSea · 10/02/2026 09:32

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:30

The Fairy God mother is one of the minor parts and you well know that.

Show quote history

Fairy Godmother is a minor part? How do you figure that one out?!
I'd say she was a fairly integral part to the story.
Without her, poor old Cinders would still be scrubbing floors and mucking out chimneys instead of dancing at the ball.
She's not a minor part at all. Genuine question, have you actually been to many pantomimes?!

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:30

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:28

But there are.

In every panto I’ve seen in the last few years the fairly godmother and the main villain have been played by older women.

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The Fairy God mother is one of the minor parts and you well know that.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:30

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:27

If you can’t see why after all my posts I can’t help you.

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So you can’t answer that specific question? Thought so.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:29

I’ve made some very clear arguments show you just how roles are already male and how few are for women.

You chose to say well the five pantos I’ve seen weren’t like that and closed your mind.

The list I wrote is accurate for most pantos nowadays because the traditional swapping of young male character to be played by a woman is out of fashion.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:28

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:25

because there are no main parts for older women.

There that’s it.

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But there are.

In every panto I’ve seen in the last few years the fairly godmother and the main villain have been played by older women.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:27

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:26

Again, how is a male actor playing a male character harming society.

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If you can’t see why after all my posts I can’t help you.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:26

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:22

You said that this wasn’t hurting society.
It is hurting women and they are part of society.

Your anecdotal evidence of heavy female cast is not accurate for the industry.
Trust me on this, the vast majority of roles are payed by men in most shows.

Also, I kind of knew you’d say “it’s just one small aspect of theatre”. Kind of ridiculous statement considering it’s the whole point of the thread AND indicative of the wider industry as a whole.

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Again, how is a male actor playing a male character harming society.

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:25

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:24

Where have I said that ageism doesn’t exist. You’re trying to argue against a point I’ve not even made.

Please explain to me how a man playing a male character is ageist?

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because there are no main parts for older women.

There that’s it.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:24

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:18

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80y1j4r8yeo

If you don’t think ageism towards women (not men) is prevalent in the arts and media think again. Roles and jobs for older women are so thin on the ground.

If you can’t see the imbalance in all types of work in the arts/ media industry then I stand by my point, you need to open your mind a little.

Panto dame is just one very small example of a much wider issue.

Where have I said that ageism doesn’t exist. You’re trying to argue against a point I’ve not even made.

Please explain to me how a man playing a male character is ageist?

ShowMeTheSea · 10/02/2026 09:23

It’s actually outrageous!

Oh, no it isn't

Tankflop · 10/02/2026 09:22

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 10/02/2026 09:13

Firstly, pantomimes are just one small aspect of theatre. Show me evidence that they are systematically disadvantaging older female actors across the profession?

Secondly, the last 5 pantomimes I’ve seen have had female heavy casts.

The only male characters/actors have been the Dame who is usually the young male character’s ‘mum’, the young male character (sometimes played by a woman) and a random male love interest for the dame (often the young female main characters dad or a buttons type character)

All other characters have been female:
Main young female character- women
Fairy godmother- women (usually older)
Villain - woman (usually older)

🤷🏼‍♀️

Show quote history

You said that this wasn’t hurting society.
It is hurting women and they are part of society.

Your anecdotal evidence of heavy female cast is not accurate for the industry.
Trust me on this, the vast majority of roles are payed by men in most shows.

Also, I kind of knew you’d say “it’s just one small aspect of theatre”. Kind of ridiculous statement considering it’s the whole point of the thread AND indicative of the wider industry as a whole.