Not Your Punchline: The Need to Transform the Transphobic Panto Tradition
Pantomime is a traditional form of theatre that originated in the Renaissance era, was honed during the Victorian era in the UK, and is used across the world to this day to bust guts. This style usually follows the tale of a damsel in distress who falls in love with a prince whose love is thwarted by an evil someone. However, pantomimes are most famous for their slapstick comedy and audience participation, mostly performed by the dames of the show. These panto dames, as they are called, are traditionally women characters played by men. The characters are often the most garishly dressed, slip into their deeper voices for comedic effect, and are ridiculed.
For many, including myself, these panto dames were a staple of their childhood. We have fond memories of laughing with our families as we told the dames where the hairbrush was while they scrambled around on stage. However, at the same time, these panto dames are perpetuating the harmful narrative that transgender people aren’t to be taken seriously.
Transgender (hereafter referred to as trans) people are people whose assigned sex does not match their gender identity. Some trans people fit the stereotypical features of their gender identity and their identity is never pulled into question, but for others, this may not be the case. And others still may feel most comfortable with a less traditional physique for their gender identity. They may just embrace the abstractness of gender in all it’s non-binary beauty. However, not everyone around them accepts this.
How trans people present is under scrutiny by all sides; non-LGBT and LGBT alike. Trans people repeatedly face physical criticisms, such as being too bulky or too skinny or having too much or too little hair. That they are too loud or too timid. Trans people are never enough. This is all exacerbated by negative representation in media, including theatre, that shows trans people being too loud or too dumb or too…anything.
This leads us back to the panto dames. Even though they are not explicitly trans characters, for many they are the first examples of ‘manly’ women. These characters are loud, gaudy, and buffoonish, but the joke is almost always negatively about a man in a dress. As Cal Horton points out in his article, “Thriving or Surviving? Raising Our Ambition for Trans Children in Primary and Secondary Schools” this kind of negative representation can “delegitimize trans identities” and sends “a message that trans identities are inferior.” Horton goes on to explain that “trans representation can also have huge importance for gender questioning children, with access to the word trans, and knowledge of the existence of trans identities opening doors to self-discovery.” If panto dames are children’s first introduction to something close to a trans identity, then they will see them as they were written: a joke. This harmful form of panto can be found throughout our media today. In movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire, White Chicks, and any of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies they use panto dame-esque comedy to get a laugh out of the audience. We here at Children’s Theatre Company have even been at fault for using panto dame comedy in our productions. In previous productions of Cinderella, we have cast the step-sisters with male actors, contributing to the harmful panto dame catalogue. However, we have since realized the harm this can cause and have stopped this practice.
Horton, and many other experts agree that “affirming trans-positive school environments are vitally important for trans pupils, improving mental health, well-being, self-esteem, school engagement, and sense of belonging” and “children who are affirmed at home and at school have positive academic and emotional outcomes.” Avoiding shows that include panto is important for your children and their friends. If you do come across panto dame humor, make it clear that that is not something to be laughed at. Instead of those shows you could watch shows with gender inclusive characters like Infinity Train, She-Ra, Steven Universe, or Owl House. Filling your bookshelves with inclusive content is also important. Titles such as I am Jazz, George, and My Princess Boy are a great start. Parents could also watch documentaries like Disclosure on Netflix to get an idea of trans representation in the media and the impact it can have on trans people.
Panto dames provide a harmful first impression of a life of beautiful gender excellence. It is time to do away with the outdated practice and embrace the normality of gender fluidity.
— Article by Ollie Kalthoff
Additional Resources:
What is Pantomime? (Video)
A Very British Flavour of Transphobia to Consider (Article)
Panto Dames aren’t homophobic, they’re hilarious (Counterpoint)
