The Marlow Entertainers

We are a small but very friendly group who specialize in one of the most popular forms of amateur comedy - Pantomime.

Based in the picturesque town of Marlow, on the river Thames about 25 miles (40 Km) from the centre of London. Our productions are staged in the Shelley Theatre, part of the Marlow Leisure complex alongside the Thames in Higginson. If you are trying to find it it's at the Western corner of the junction of the river and Marlow High Street.

Recent productions have included old favourites Dick Whittington, Jack & the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Aladdin, however since the Entertainers were formed some 40 years ago we have produced, at least once, every one of the traditional pantomimes as well as a few that are not, always from original scripts written by our members.

Auditions are usually held at the end of September/early October, productions staged early in January. Newcomers are always welcome to our group for on stage or backstage, ABSOLUTELY NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!!! If you have never acted before in your life this is the way to have a go, it's great fun and so satisfying. There are so many people who never wanted to act, never thought they would tread the boards and for one reason or another found themselves getting involved. All of them will admit, it's fun. One of our members even graduated to the West End Stage and now lives in Hollywood!!

Rehearsals usually take place on Friday & Sunday evenings 7pm till 9pm until mid-December when the pace steps up.

Get in touch with us today, phone our Chairman, Mel Wilks, on 01494 717561.

WATCH THIS SITE FOR DETAILS OF FORTHCOMING ACTIVITIES OR PHONE US FOR INFORMATION

For those new to Pantomime the origins go back to the ancient civilisations of Greece & Rome where in the massive outdoor amphitheatres it was often easier to mime the action with exaggerated facial and body movements. This style of entertainment developed to become highly fashionable in 16th Century Italy with the adventures of Harlequin, his sweetheart Columbine and her father Pantelone. By the time this reached London the performance involved scenes with music and dancing in fairy tales. In these times all of the characters were played by men so it is not difficult to see how, with the addition of musical hall style and characterisation, the present day format has become so popular. This has now become established that there are always the following characters:-

PRINCIPLE BOY - The hero character and usually played by an attractive girl, falls in love with and usually marries the Principle Girl, always wins the final battle against the baddy.

PRINCIPLE GIRL - The heroin who finishes up marrying the principle boy. Almost a bit of a Barbie Doll character who does no wrong but she always gets her man!

DAME - Absolutely essential to the plot this part is always played by a man, usually middle aged and may even be ugly and fat but always with a heart of gold and she often gets her man too! Often this is the Principle Girl's father or similar character.

COMIC HERO - He is everybody's friend and a real nice guy who is also a rather sad character as he starts and finishes the plot alone. He is someone the children can identify with as he is really a child at heart, he employs comedy and pathos to get his character across and usually gains a close rapport with the audience so he gets cheered every time he enters stage.

FAIRY GODMOTHER - She often adopts many different identities depending on the story and will vary in appearance from young attractive to a kind old lady but she is always nice to everyone except the baddy.

THE BADDY - Takes many forms, animal or human but he is always bad. He is immediately recognisable from his costume, makeup and demeanour as a baddy and gets booed every time he enters. He always get beaten in the end.

BAILIFF - Not always prominent, but usually a lesser baddy or the baddy's henchman who usually gets his comeuppance.

BAILIFFS MEN - Two rascally comic characters who link many of the scenes and also perform cameo roles which distract from the main action while scene and costume changes take place.

PRINCIPLE GIRLS FATHER - As the name suggests he is the father of the principle girl, quite fuddy duddy and level headed he is usually attracted to the Dame, He usually finishes up with her too!

Whatever the part Panto is always lots of fun and a great way to make new friends - why not give it a try????

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