July 2008 Heritage Feature: Pantomime Research Call

Wanted – memories of pantomime in the Highlands and Islands

• Did you see Tommy Lorne at Inverness Empire?
• Did you attend a pantomime at Eden Court Theatre in the 1970s?
• Are you involved in making a pantomime this year?

 A new research project on Scottish pantomime would like to hear from anyone who has memories of pantomime in the Highlands and Islands – and specifically at the Inverness Empire when Tommy Lorne appeared there in pantomime in the 1930s.  The famous comedian apparently brought his touring production to the city in order to win a bet that he couldn’t open a pantomime so far north! The naysayers were proved wrong as the show was a great success with people travelling to Inverness from all parts of the Highlands to see the star.

The researchers would like to know more of this event and of other pantomimes – both professional and non-professional – in the area.

The research team would be delighted to hear from anyone who has memories of going to – or appearing in – pantomime in Inverness, and in towns and villages across the Highlands. In addition to the visit by Tommy Lorne they would be particularly interested to hear from people who remember pantomimes at the Empire Theatre in Academy Street in Inverness, and at Eden Court during its early years in the 1970s.

The research project is also about pantomime today and the research team would be delighted to know the dates of forthcoming community and other non-professional pantomimes – for examples in schools, church and village halls. The researchers want to log all pantomime activity across Scotland in 2008/09 and, so, would be very grateful if anyone organising a pantomime of any sort – community, school or youth-based – could help by sending the dates and details of their production, together with a contact email address or phone number. Gathering advance information in this way will enable the research team to plan their survey to reflect the range and diversity of pantomimes that take place across the country every winter.

Pantomime in Scotland looks forward to hearing from you!

Pantomime in Scotland can be contacted by email at:

pantomime@gla.ac.uk

By post to:

Paul Maloney
Pantomime in Scotland
Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 8QQ

Or by telephone on:

0141 330 5636

Above Photos courtesy of Highland Photographic Archive. Tommy Lorne Photo thanks to Scottish Theatre Archive.