Boxing Day

Abstract:

Throughout the nineteenth century the Boxing Day performances of the annual pantomime at theatres throughout Britain were a highlight of the theatrical calendar. Traditionally, the Christmas festivities spilled over into Boxing Day on 26 December, the day on which tradesmen and servants received their Christmas boxes, a seasonal gift of money from employers or customers, and so had an unaccustomed amount to spend. This was also the day which saw the first performance of hundreds of Christmas pantomimes, combining spectacle, comedy, music and, for most of the century, the Harlequinade in a performance that appealed to both adults and children through a strange blend of fairy tale and topical allusion. The solvency of many theatres depended on the success of these pantomimes, which could run for several months and would hopefully recoup the substantial financial investment involved. Most …

Año de publicación:

2007

Keywords:

Fuente:

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