123-512: The Gordon Craig Theatre is the only major theatre in Stevenage , Hertfordshire . Opened in 1975, the 501-seat theatre on Lytton Way houses its own rehearsal room, scenic workshop, wardrobe, cafe, bar, and art gallery. The theatre is housed in the Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, which is situated on Lytton Way, directly opposite Stevenage Railway Station and is connected to the station by
246-453: A chambermaid at one of the coaching inns emptied embers from the fireplace into the street. Sparks from the embers ignited the thatched roof of a nearby wheelwright 's shop, and quickly engulfed the other timber framed buildings in the north end of the Old Town due to a strong North wind. The conflagration was only stopped from engulfing the entire street by demolishing a house to serve as
369-475: A dodecahedron toy, fragments of amphorae for imported wine, bone hairpins, and samian ware pottery associated with high status families. Archeological excavations have confirmed the existence of a small Roman farmstead, a malting kiln and a Celtic round house in the Chells area, and a cemetery containing 25 cremations . The most substantial evidence of activity from Roman times is Six Hills , six tumuli by
492-555: A firebreak . After the fire was extinguished by Stevenage's volunteer firefighters using a hand-operated fire engine made in 1763, the houses and inns were rebuilt with brick facades and tiled roofs. Troopers from the Hertfordshire Yeomanry assisted the firefighters in the operation. In 1850 the Great Northern Railway was constructed and the era of the stagecoach ended. Stevenage grew only slowly throughout
615-590: A British expatriate audience and later adapted by Maltese producers for Maltese audiences. While in many former territories of the British empire, pantomime declined in popularity after independence, as it was seen as a symbol of colonial rule, studies have shown that this genre remains strong in Malta. Pantomime was brought to Switzerland by British immigrants and is performed regularly in Geneva since 1972 and Basel since 1994, in
738-456: A bridge extending across the dual carriageway . The Arts & Leisure Centre is accessible by train (via the bridge), car (via Lytton Way), bus (via Stevenage Bus Interchange) and foot (via the Town Centre). Taking its name from Edward Gordon Craig , the internationally renowned theatre practitioner who was born less than a mile away, the theatre has become a key part of the cultural offering of
861-478: A combined bus and rail interchange , high-density town-centre living, substantially improved civic facilities, increased office space and an improved 'public realm'. YMCA Space Stevenage (a youth and community centre) was evicted and replaced by Paddy Power (a betting shop). Other well-known stores, such as Maplin Electronics , and Marks & Spencer have also disappeared from Stevenage town centre. The town has
984-572: A comic "night scene". Tavern Bilkers , by John Weaver , the dancing master at Drury Lane, is cited as the first pantomime produced on the English stage. This production was not a success, and Weaver waited until 1716 to produce his next pantomimes, including The Loves of Mars and Venus – a new Entertainment in Dancing after the manner of the Antient Pantomimes . The same year he produced a pantomime on
1107-800: A consequence, Americans commonly understand the word "pantomime" to refer to the art of mime as it is practised by mime artists . According to Russell A. Peck of the University of Rochester , the earliest pantomime productions in the US were Cinderella pantomime productions in New York in March 1808, New York again in August 1808, Philadelphia in 1824, and Baltimore in 1839. A production at Olympic Theatre in New York of Humpty Dumpty ran for at least 943 performances between 1868 and 1873, (one source says 1,200 performances), becoming
1230-514: A dancer who acted all the roles or all the story. The Roman pantomime drew upon the Greek tragedy and other Greek genres from its inception, although the art was instituted in Ancient Rome and little is known of it in pre-Roman Greece. The English word came to be applied to the performance itself. According to a lost oration by Aelius Aristides , the pantomime was known for its erotic content and
1353-523: A direct relationship to local history. The "Edward the Confessor" pub (closed 2006) could have had a connection to St Mary's Church in nearby Walkern as King Edward reigned from 1042 until his death in 1066 and Walkern's church dates from this period. The second pub with a link to local history is the "Our Mutual Friend" in Broadwater. The name of the pub is the title of a novel by Charles Dickens . Dickens
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#17328850604981476-511: A draw at Broadhall Way, before losing the replay 2–1 at Newcastle. The club would go one better in 2010, securing a 3–1 home victory over Newcastle in the third round of the competition – the first time the club had beaten first tier opposition. The following season , Stevenage held Tottenham Hotspur to a 0–0 draw at home in the fifth round, before losing the subsequent replay 3–1 at White Hart Lane . Pantomime Pantomime ( / ˈ p æ n t ə ˌ m aɪ m / ; informally panto )
1599-607: A form of entertainment that spread throughout the empire where, because of its wordless nature, it did more than any other art to foster knowledge of the myths and Roman legends that formed its subject-matter – tales such as those of the love of Venus and Mars and of Dido and Aeneas – while in Italy its chief exponents were celebrities, often the protegés of influential citizens, whose followers wore badges proclaiming their allegiance and engaged in street-fights with rival groups, while its accompanying songs became widely known. Yet, because of
1722-456: A good lick', McKellen adopts a suitable look of mock-outrage. ... At least we can tell our grandchildren that we saw McKellen's Twankey and it was huge." The main roles within pantomime are usually as follows: Pantomime is performed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Australasia, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Malta and Andorra, among other places. It is performed mostly during
1845-402: A hand-language (cheironomy) so complex and expressive that the pantomime's hands were commonly compared to an eloquent mouth. Pantomime differed from mime by its more artistic nature and relative lack of farce and coarse humour, though these were not absent from some productions. Roman pantomime was immensely popular from the end of the first century BC until the end of the sixth century AD,
1968-628: A hangar at Basel Airport . The Geneva Amateur Operatic Society has performed pantomimes annually since 1972. since 2009 the Basel English Panto Group has performed at the Scala Basel each December. Annual pantomimes have been running at Christmas in the UAE (and elsewhere in the GCC) since 2007. They are mainly performed by Dubai Panto (a trade name of h2 Productions.ae ) in conjunction with Outside
2091-508: A kind of harlequinade, very different from that which is seen at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where harlequin and all the characters speak." The majority of these early pantomimes were re-tellings of a story from ancient Greek or Roman literature, with a break between the two acts during which the harlequinade's zany comic business was performed. The theatre historian David Mayer explains the use of
2214-581: A large central library in Southgate, at the southern end of the pedestrian precinct, with facilities including printing, fax and photocopying, children's events, study space, a carers' information point and a large public computer suite, as well as a small branch library at the northern end of the High Street in the Old Town. There is also a public library in nearby Knebworth, located in St Martin's Road. The town
2337-488: A meeting held in the town hall before Lewis Silkin , minister in the Labour Government of Clement Attlee. As Lewis Silkin arrived at the railway station for this meeting, some local people had changed the signs 'Stevenage' to 'Silkingrad'. Silkin was obstinate at the meeting, telling a crowd of 3,000 people outside the town hall (around half the town's residents): "It's no good your jeering, it's going to be done." Despite
2460-406: A more romantic and stylised way. Grimaldi's performances elevated the role by "acute observation upon the foibles and absurdities of society, and his happy talent of holding them up to ridicule. He is the finest practical satyrist [ sic ] that ever existed. ... He was so extravagantly natural, that the most saturnine looker-on acknowledged his sway; and neither the wise, the proud, or
2583-407: A plain, fan-shaped auditorium with excellent sightlines. It is a modern, fully-equipped touring and, occasionally, producing theatre with fourteen dressing rooms, an optional orchestra pit, and has an intimate atmosphere; it has also been used for cinema screenings. Architect Ray Gorbing's original exterior design proved controversial. It attracted both admirers and those horrified at the aesthetic of
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#17328850604982706-403: A popular form of theatre, incorporating song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick , cross-dressing , in-jokes, topical references, audience participation, and mild sexual innuendo . Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson , in his 2020 memoir, summarizes contemporary pantomime as classic folklore and fairy tales loosely retold in a slapstick theatrical comedy-musical, writing: "Think Mamma Mia! featuring
2829-517: A positive image." The orange cladding was later replaced. The programme offered by the Gordon Craig Theatre is currently strongly focused on music (including tribute bands), comedy, popular dance, popular entertainment and family shows. The theatre also plays host to productions presented by local amateur and community groups. In addition, since 2012 the theatre has produced three shows in-house annually, incorporating musicals and drama. One of
2952-448: A purpose-built homeless shelter, which will serve a large part of Hertfordshire. The primary industrial area is in a location that is separate—but adjacent to—the residential areas of town. British Aerospace (now MBDA ) was the largest employer in this area, but it has now been replaced by GSK . The firm occupies a large complex, hosting one of GSK's two global R&D hubs. Airbus Defence and Space (previously British Aerospace)
3075-448: A singer or chorus (though Lucian states that originally the pantomime himself was the singer). Music was supplied by flute and the pulse of an iron-shod shoe called a scabellum . Performances might be in a private household, with minimal personnel, or else lavish theatrical productions involving a large orchestra and chorus and sometimes an ancillary actor. The dancer danced all the roles, relying on masks, stock poses and gestures and
3198-620: A story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or folk tale . Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is encouraged and expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers. Pantomime has a long theatrical history in Western culture dating back to the era of classical theatre . It developed partly from the 16th century commedia dell'arte tradition of Italy and other European and British stage traditions, such as 17th-century masques and music hall . An important part of
3321-426: A variety of shows including live music and comedy. From the early 1960s there was discussion on the need for an Arts / Leisure centre in the new town of Stevenage. In 1968 Stevenage Arts Trust resolved to commence the building of an Arts Centre on land granted by Stevenage Development Corporation. Architects Messrs Vincent, Gorbing and Partners drew up detailed plans for a 488-seat theatre to cost £300,000. The scheme
3444-819: Is a Grade 2 listed building. It is also the largest parish church to have been built in England since World War Two. Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother laid the foundation stone in July 1956 and was also present at the consecration of the Bishop of St Alban's, the Right Reverend Michael Gresford-Jones , on Advent Sunday 27 November 1960. The frame is constructed from a continuous pour of concrete into moulds, creating interlacing arches and leaving no apparent joints. There are twelve Purbeck-marble columns around
3567-646: Is a town and borough in Hertfordshire , England , about 27 miles (43 km) north of London . Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M) , between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevenage was designated the United Kingdom's first New Town under the New Towns Act . "Stevenage" may derive from Old English stiþen āc / stiðen āc / stithen ac (various Old English dialects cited here) meaning "(place at)
3690-474: Is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking countries, especially during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing. It generally combines gender-crossing actors and topical humour with
3813-453: Is also being regenerated with new bars, restaurants, flexible working facilities and shops being introduced to the area. The plans are based on the local government authority's Local Plan which was given approval on 26 March 2019. The town is also introducing a new public services hub which will consolidate services that are currently spread across Stevenage into one central space A new Bus Interchange opened on Sunday 26 June 2022, closer to
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3936-430: Is being slowed down in his pursuit of them by his servant, Clown, and by a bumbling policeman. After the time of Grimaldi, Clown became the principal schemer trying to thwart the lovers, and Pantaloon was merely his assistant. The opening "fairy story" was often blended with a story about a love triangle: a "cross-grained" old father who owns a business and whose pretty daughter is pursued by two suitors. The one she loves
4059-507: Is called Ditchmore Lane . The nearby Stevenage Leisure Park has a multiplex cinema, clubs, and restaurants. The main shopping area is around Queensway and the Westgate. At the south of the town, there is a retail park called 9Yards (formerly Roaring Meg), its former name being taken from a stream (a tributary of the River Beane ) that runs under it. The river can be seen along the western edge of
4182-440: Is located in a smaller industrial park. This is the same area that both Matra Marconi Space and Astrium , a prime contractor and equipment supplier of spacecraft, previously occupied. There are also small- to medium-sized firms such as Stevenage BioScience Catalyst (SBC) , a new science park aimed at attracting small and start-up life-sciences enterprises, opened in 2011 on a site next to GSK. The pedestrianised town centre
4305-540: Is poor but worthy, while the father prefers the other, a wealthy fop. Another character is a servant in the father's establishment. Just as the daughter is to be forcibly wed to the fop, or just as she was about to elope with her lover, the good fairy arrives. This was followed by what was often the most spectacular part of the production, the magical transformation scene. In early pantomimes, Harlequin possessed magical powers that he used to help himself and his love interest escape. He would tap his wooden sword (a derivative of
4428-506: Is saved from rocks and axe, I think he should pay the powder-tax. His guyish plots blown up – nay, do not frown; You've always been a guy – now be a Clown. This passage is from a pantomime adaptation of the Guy Fawkes story. The fairy creates the characters of the harlequinade in the most typical fashion of simply telling the characters what they will change into. The principal male and female characters from
4551-618: Is still growing. It is set to expand west of the A1(M) motorway and may be further identified for development. The main area of more recent development is Great Ashby to the north-east of the town (but actually in North Hertfordshire District). A considerable amount of in-borough development has been undertaken at Chrysalis Park on the old Dixon's Warehouse site adjacent to the Pin Green Industrial Estate. The town and
4674-527: Is the Gordon Craig Theatre itself, which has a capacity of 501. The stage features a proscenium up to 12.2m wide and the stage depth is 7.62m. The theatre boasts a proud tradition of presenting plays , pantomime , opera , dance and orchestral concerts. Also located within the Arts & Leisure Centre is the Concert Hall, derived from a large gymnasium, which has a capacity of 1,200. The concert hall plays host to
4797-547: The Conference Premier title during the 2009–10 season, having previously been denied promotion to the Football League due to insufficient ground facilities in 1996. During Stevenage's first season as a Football League club, they secured back-to-back promotions to League One , the third tier of English football, after beating Torquay United 1–0 in the 2010–11 play-off final at Old Trafford . Stevenage also won
4920-552: The FA Trophy in 2007, beating Kidderminster Harriers 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 53,262. It was the first competitive club game and cup final to be held at the new stadium. Stevenage reached the final again in 2009, beating York City 2–0. The club has also enjoyed several runs in the FA Cup , raising the town's profile in the process. During the 1997–98 campaign, Stevenage held Premier League side Newcastle United to
5043-665: The Grimm Brothers . Some of the most popular pantomime stories include Cinderella , Aladdin , Dick Whittington and His Cat and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , as well as Jack and the Beanstalk , Peter Pan , Puss in Boots and Sleeping Beauty . Other traditional stories include Mother Goose , Beauty and the Beast , Robinson Crusoe , The Wizard of Oz , Babes in
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5166-629: The Little Theatre Movement in Jamaica. Among the first players was Louise Bennett-Coverley . Other notable players have included Oliver Samuels , Charles Hyatt , Willard White , Rita Marley and Dawn Penn . The annual pantomime opens on Boxing Day at the Little Theatre in Kingston and is strongly influenced by aspects of Jamaican culture, folklore and history. Pantomime was imported for
5289-521: The New Town in the 1980s, and a hoard of Roman coins was discovered. In the present day, Chells is a suburb of New Stevenage. In 1558 Thomas Alleyne , then the Rector of Stevenage, founded a free grammar school for boys, Alleyne's Grammar School , which, despite becoming a boys' comprehensive school in 1967, had an unbroken existence (unlike the grammar school in neighbouring Hitchin ) until 1989, when it
5412-497: The Three Stooges but with everyone's back catalogue, not just ABBA 's", and furthermore including audience participation reminiscent of showings of the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Pantomime story lines and scripts usually make no direct reference to Christmas and are almost always based on traditional children's stories, particularly the fairy tales of Charles Perrault , Joseph Jacobs , Hans Christian Andersen and
5535-501: The masque , which grew in pomp and spectacle from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The development of English pantomime was also strongly influenced by the continental commedia dell'arte , a form of popular theatre that arose in Italy in the Early Modern Period . This was a "comedy of professional artists" travelling from province to province in Italy and then France, who improvised and told comic stories that held lessons for
5658-585: The stagecoaches , 21 of which passed through Stevenage each day in 1800. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the road now known as Six Hills Way was the haunt of highwaymen who would use the ancient burial mounds as a hiding place. James Whitney, the namesake of the Highwayman pub in Graveley , was hanged at Newgate in 1693 for robbing travellers in this area. Whitney, a Jacobite , was born in Stevenage c.1660 and
5781-747: The "batte" or slapstick and the transformation scene that led to the harlequinade: Rich gave his Harlequin the power to create stage magic in league with offstage craftsmen who operated trick scenery. Armed with a magic sword or bat (actually a slapstick), Rich's Harlequin treated his weapon as a wand, striking the scenery to sustain the illusion of changing the setting from one locale to another. Objects, too, were transformed by Harlequin's magic bat. Pantomime gradually became more topical and comic, often involving spectacular and elaborate theatrical effects as far as possible. Colley Cibber , David Garrick and others competed with Rich and produced their own pantomimes, and pantomime continued to grow in popularity. By
5904-422: The 17th century, adaptations of the commedia characters became familiar in English entertainments. From these, the standard English harlequinade developed, depicting the eloping lovers Harlequin and Columbine , pursued by the girl's father Pantaloon and his comic servants Clown and Pierrot . In English versions, by the 18th century, Harlequin became the central figure and romantic lead. The basic plot of
6027-621: The 1980s. The White Rock Players Club in White Rock, BC have presented an annual pantomime in the Christmas season since 1954. The Royal Canadian Theatre Company produces pantomimes in British Columbia, written by Ellie King. Since 2013, Theatre Replacement has been producing East Van Panto in partnership with The Cultch in Vancouver. The National Pantomime of Jamaica was started in 1941 by educators Henry Fowler and Greta Fowler, pioneers of
6150-496: The 19th century and a second church (Holy Trinity) was constructed at the south end of the High Street. In 1861 Dickens commented, "The village street was like most other village streets: wide for its height, silent for its size, and drowsy in the dullest degree. The quietest little dwellings with the largest of window-shutters to shut up nothing as if it were the Mint or the Bank of England." At
6273-826: The Box Events LLC. They increased to three pantomimes at Christmas since 2021 – 2 in Dubai and 1 in Abu Dhabi. One of the locations for Dubai Pantomimes is at the theatre on the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship The other is in the theatre at the Erth Hotel, Abu Dhabi (formerly the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel). Pantomime as described in this article was seldom performed in the United States until recent decades. As
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#17328850604986396-454: The Christmas and New Year season. Many theatres in cities and towns throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland continue to present an annual professional pantomime. Pantomime is also popular with amateur dramatics societies throughout the UK and Ireland, and during the pantomime season (roughly speaking, late November to February) productions are staged in many village halls and similar venues across
6519-459: The Commedia dell'arte slapstick or "batte") on the floor or scenery to make a grand transition of the world around him take place. The scene would switch from being inside some house or castle to, generally speaking, the streets of the town with storefronts as the backdrop. The transformation sequence was presided over by a Fairy Queen or Fairy Godmother character. The good fairy magically transformed
6642-462: The Great North Road. In 1281 it was granted a Royal Charter to hold a weekly market and annual fair, still held in the High Street. The earliest part of St Nicholas's Church dates from the 12th century, but it was probably a site of worship much earlier. The list of rectors (parish priests) is relatively complete from 1213. Around 1500 the church was much improved, with decorative woodwork and
6765-618: The Hitchin Board of Guardians. The following year the town voted to become a Local Government District governed by a Local Board , which would have the effect of also making the town an Urban Sanitary District, independent of the Hitchin Rural Sanitary District. The Stevenage Local Government District took effect on 2 October 1873, covering the whole parish of Stevenage. The first meeting of the Stevenage Local Board
6888-471: The King George Playing Fields to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Elizabeth II . It was the first carnival held in Stevenage since 2019, due to the coronavirus pandemic . In 2016, Stevenage "celebrated" its seventieth anniversary as a New Town. The Town Centre Regeneration Strategy (2002) called for better-quality shops (including a major department store), improved public transport with
7011-520: The Old Castle coaching inn , and was used as a staging post by the Royal Mail . From 1999 until 2016 it served as a branch of NatWest , and as of 2022 it has been converted into a dentist 's surgery . Stevenage's prosperity came in part from the Great North Road, which was turnpiked in the early 18th century on the site of the present day Marquess of Granby pub. Many inns in the High Street served
7134-508: The Stevenage First partnership has now launched a new, £1bn, 20-year regeneration programme designed to transform central spaces and introduce new residential, commercial and retail facilities, amongst others. The programme is formed of a number of individual schemes including the £350m ‘SG1’ programme being led by Mace and the £50m redevelopment of Queensway North, the former site of Marks & Spencer. In addition, Stevenage's Town Square
7257-687: The Teatre de les Fontetes in the parish of La Massana. Now it is produced by English and English-speaking international volunteers as part of the Advent celebrations supported by the Comú de La Massana, the local businesses the Club International d'Andorra and Vallnord ski station to raise money, most recently, for the less privileged children of Andorra. Pantomimes in Australia at Christmas were once very popular, but
7380-430: The United Kingdom. There are two tiers of local government covering Stevenage, at district and county level: Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council . Stevenage was an ancient parish in the hundred of Broadwater . From 1835 Stevenage was included in the Hitchin Poor Law Union . As such it became part of the Hitchin Rural Sanitary District in 1872, with local government functions passing to
7503-532: The Wood (combined with elements of Robin Hood ), Little Red Riding Hood , Goldilocks and the Three Bears , Sinbad , St. George and the Dragon , Bluebeard , The Little Mermaid and Thumbelina . Prior to about 1870, many other stories were made into pantomimes. While the familiarity of the audience with the original children's story is generally assumed, plot lines are almost always adapted for comic or satirical effect, and characters and situations from other stories are often interpolated into
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#17328850604987626-401: The addition of a clerestory . North of the Old Town is Jack's Hill, associated with the legendary archer Jack O'Legs of Weston . According to local folklore, Jack stole flour from the bakers of Baldock to feed the poor during a famine , like Robin Hood . The remains of a medieval moated homestead in Whomerley Wood comprise an 80-yard-square trench almost five feet wide in parts. It
7749-477: The area. Designed to accommodate orchestral concerts alongside produced and visiting theatrical events, it has also been used to screen films and host organ recitals. The Theatres Trust describes the theatre as: "probably the best-designed civic entertainment centre of its type in the country". The theatre was officially opened in February 1976 by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh . The Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre contains two halls. The smaller of these
7872-487: The area. There is also shopping in the Old Town. 9Yards once had an ice rink and bowling alley, but these were demolished in 2000 to allow the construction of more stores. Stevenage FC , formerly known as Stevenage Borough, is the town's major football team, playing their home matches at Broadhall Way . Founded in 1976, the club were promoted to the Football Conference , the highest tier of non-league football, in 1994. After sixteen seasons in this division, Stevenage won
7995-557: The beginning plotline, often both played by young women, became the lovers Columbine and Harlequin, the mother or father of Columbine became Pantaloon, and the servant or other comic character became Clown. They would transition into the new characters as the scenery around them changed and would proceed in the "zany fun" section of the performance. From the time of Grimaldi, Clown would see the transformed setting and cry: "Here We Are Again!" The harlequinade began with various chase scenes, in which Harlequin and Columbine manage to escape from
8118-462: The building. Panels of glass and reinforced plastic had been used to insulate the building against noise from rail, road and overhead aircraft. The orange coloured cladding led to it being nicknamed "Gorbing’s orange box". The Architects' Journal described the building: "designed as a simple rectangular coloured box… it reflects the integration of activities within and also expresses the introvert nature of these activities…the bright colour provides
8241-491: The capability of dance to render complex stories and express human emotion. In the Middle Ages, the Mummers Play was a traditional English folk play, based loosely on the Saint George and the Dragon legend, usually performed during Christmas gatherings, which contained the origin of many of the archetypal elements of the pantomime, such as stage fights, coarse humour and fantastic creatures, gender role reversal, and good defeating evil. Precursors of pantomime also included
8364-418: The clutches of Clown and Pantaloon, despite the acrobatic leaps of the former through windows, atop ladders, often because of well-meaning but misguided actions of the policeman. Eventually, there was a "dark scene", such as a cave or forest, in which the lovers were caught, and Harlequin's magic wand was seized from his grasp by Clown, who would flourish it in triumph. The good fairy would then reappear, and once
8487-474: The continuing adverse economic conditions. The plans, which included realigning streets, moving the bus station and building a new department store, cinema, hotel, restaurants, and flats, had been given council planning approval in January 2012. Stevenage holds a number of annual events, including Stevenage Day and Rock in the Park. In past years Stevenage Carnival has also been held, with a number of attempts to revive it. In June 2022, Stevenage Day returned to
8610-402: The country. Kitty Gurnos-Davies states in her doctoral dissertation that pantomime is responsible for 20% of all live performances in the UK in any one year. The 2018–2019 season saw pantomime performances generating over £60m for the first time in recorded British history. It was first produced annually in Andorra by the English-speaking Mums' group, from the British expatriate community, in
8733-487: The craziness of the harlequinade chase scene. It was the most exciting part of the "panto", because it was fast-paced and included spectacular scenic magic as well as slapstick comedy, dancing and acrobatics. The presence of slapstick in this part of the show evolved from the characters found in Italian commedia dell'arte. The plot of the harlequinade was relatively simple; the star-crossed lovers, Harlequin and Columbine, run away from Columbine's foolish father, Pantaloon, who
8856-476: The crowd, changing the main character depending on where they were performing. Each "scenario" used some of the same stock characters. These included the innamorati (young lovers); the vecchi (old men) such as Pantalone ; and zanni (servants) such as Arlecchino , Colombina , Scaramouche and Pierrot . Italian masque performances in the 17th century sometimes included the Harlequin character. In
8979-415: The early 1800s, the pantomime's classical stories were often supplanted by stories adapted from European fairy tales , fables , folk tales , classic English literature or nursery rhymes . Also, the harlequinade grew in importance until it often was the longest and most important part of the entertainment. Pantomimes usually had dual titles that gave an often humorous idea of both the pantomime story and
9102-483: The effeminacy of its dancing; Aristides's work was responded to by Libanius , in his oration "On Behalf of the Dancers", written probably around 361 AD. Roman pantomime was a production, usually based upon myth or legend, for a solo male dancer—clad in a long silk tunic and a short mantle ( pallium ) that was often used as a "prop" —accompanied by a sung libretto (called the fabula saltica or "dance-story") rendered by
9225-488: The entertainment, he or she likely adds to its overall effect, while if it becomes a "showcase for a star" who "stands outside the action", the celebrity's presence likely detracts, notwithstanding the marketing advantage that the star brings to the piece. Billington said that Ian McKellen in a 2004 Aladdin "lets down his hair and lifts up his skirt to reveal a nifty pair of legs and an appetite for double entendre : when told by decorators that 'your front porch could do with
9348-414: The fair, the young nor the old, were ashamed to laugh till tears coursed down their cheeks at Joe and his comicalities." Grimaldi's performances were important in expanding the importance of the harlequinade until it dominated the pantomime entertainment. By the 1800s, therefore, children went to the theatre around the Christmas and New Year holiday (and often at Easter or other times) primarily to witness
9471-416: The father agreed to the marriage of the young lovers, she would transport the whole company to a grand final scene. Despite its visible decline by 1836, the pantomime still fought to stay alive. After 1843, when theatres other than the original patent theatres were permitted to perform spoken dialogue, the importance of the silent harlequinade began to decrease, while the importance of the fairy-tale part of
9594-472: The final cost was estimated at £1,610,218. The foundation stone was laid on 14 June 1974 by Baroness Lee, the former Labour minister, Jennie Lee . Opening for The Danesgate Theatre, as the building was then to be known, was planned for November 1975. On the suggestion of Roger Dyason, the first Arts' Manager of the Centre, proposal was made in August 1975 to a Full Council Meeting of Stevenage Borough Council that
9717-648: The genre has declined greatly since the middle of the 20th century. Several later professional productions did not recover their costs. Christmas pantomimes are performed yearly at the Hudson Village Theatre in Quebec. Since 1996, Ross Petty Productions has staged pantomimes at Toronto's Elgin Theatre each Christmas season. Pantomimes imported from England were produced at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in
9840-475: The harlequinade remained essentially the same for more than 150 years, except that a bumbling policeman was added to the chase. In the first two decades of the 18th century, two rival London theatres, Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (the patent theatres ) presented productions that began seriously with classical stories that contained elements of opera and ballet and ended with
9963-771: The harlequinade. "Harlequin and ________", or "Harlequin _______; or, the ________". In the second case, harlequin was used as an adjective, followed by words that described the pantomime "opening", for example: Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren; or, Fortunatus and the Water of Life, the Three Bears, the Three Gifts, the Three Wishes, and the Little Man who Woo'd the Little Maid . Harlequin
10086-401: The high altar and the external walls are clad in panels faced with Normandy pebble. The campanile houses the loudspeakers for an electro-acoustic carillon. A popular sculpture, 'The Urban Elephant' by Andrew Burton , was commissioned in 1992. Although revolutionary for its time, the town centre is showing signs of age and, in 2005, plans were revealed for a major regeneration to take place over
10209-575: The hostile reaction to Silkin and a referendum that showed 52% (turnout 2,500) 'entirely against' the expansion, the plan went ahead. The first significant building to be demolished to make way for a gyratory system was the Old Town Hall, in which the opposition had been expressed, in 1974. The inaugural chairman of the Stevenage Development Corporation was the architect Clough Williams-Ellis , appointed by Lewis Silkin in 1946, with
10332-459: The late 19th century, when Augustus Harris was proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and hired well-known variety artists for his pantomimes. Contemporary pantomime productions are often adapted to allow the star to showcase their well-known act, even when such a spot has little relation to the pantomime's plot. Critic Michael Billington has argued that if the star enters into the spirit of
10455-410: The leads from the opening fairy story into their new identities as the harlequinade characters. Following is an example of the speech that the fairy would give during this transformation: Lovers stand forth. With you we shall begin. You will be fair Columbine – you Harlequin. King Jamie there, the bonnie Scottish loon, Will be a famous cheild for Pantaloon. Though Guy Fawkes now
10578-591: The legendary motorcycles, including the Black Shadow and Black Lightning, in the town until 1955. Slow growth in Stevenage continued until just after the Second World War , when the Abercrombie Plan called for the establishment of a ring of new towns around London. On 1 August 1946, Stevenage was designated the first New Town under the New Towns Act . The plan was not popular and local people protested at
10701-547: The limits imposed upon Roman citizens' dance, the populism of its song-texts and other factors, the art was as much despised as adored, and its practitioners were usually slaves or freedmen. Because of the low status and the disappearance of its libretti , the Roman pantomime received little modern scholarly attention until the late 20th century, despite its great influence upon Roman culture as perceived in Roman art, in statues of famous dancers, graffiti, objects and literature. After
10824-509: The local town gas company from c.1885 until 1936, when it was converted into a private dwelling. Chells Manor , a medieval hall house located three miles from the Old Town, was built in the 14th century for the Wake family on the foundations of a much older moated manor house mentioned in the Domesday Book . The site of the lost village of Chells was redeveloped during the extension of
10947-1463: The major highlights of the yearly programme is the pantomime . Incorporating some of the top names in the entertainment world and budding local performers, the theatre's pantomime attracts record-breaking attendances year on year. Flame Projections Jacqueline Mason (Choreography) Dave Nott (Sound) Drew Varley (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Flik Swan (Choreography) Dave Nott (Sound) Philip Joel (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Phil Nunnington (Sound) Luke Hyde (Sound) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Luke Hyde (Sound) Lisa Hickey (Costume) Khiley Williams (Choreography) Stevenage Stevenage ( / ˈ s t iː v ən ɪ dʒ / STEE -vən-ij )
11070-495: The move owing to budget cuts . During the 17th century, the Elizabethan house at 37 High Street was the home of greengrocer and churchwarden Henry Trigg . Trigg was a philanthropist who donated another of his properties to serve as Stevenage's first workhouse. When Henry died in 1724 his coffin was placed in the rafters of the adjoining barn to prevent resurrection men from stealing his remains. In 1774, Trigg's house became
11193-537: The neighbouring parish of Shephall . Until 1964 the council met at the Town Hall on Orchard Road. With the designation of the New Town, several plans for a civic centre in the new town centre were put forward, but none came to fruition. In September 1964, the council moved its offices and meeting place to a recently-built office building in the new town centre called Southgate House (later renamed Vista Tower). The old Town Hall
11316-435: The next decade. Details are still being debated by the council, landowners and other interested parties. Multimillion-pound plans to redevelop Stevenage town centre were scrapped owing to the financial crisis of 2007–08 and the lack of interested private-sector partners. On 24 May 2012 Stevenage Borough Council announced that a £250m scheme for the shopping area has been pulled by Stevenage Regeneration Limited (SRL) because of
11439-410: The pantomime increased. Two writers who helped to elevate the importance and popularity of the fairy-tale portion of the pantomime were James Planché and Henry James Byron . They emphasized puns and humorous word play, a tradition that continues in pantomime today. As manager of Drury Lane in the 1870s, Augustus Harris produced and co-wrote a series of extraordinarily popular pantomimes, focusing on
11562-525: The pantomime stories. The last harlequinade was played at the Lyceum Theatre in 1939. Well-known pantomime artists of this era included William Payne , his sons, the Payne Brothers , Vesta Tilley , Dan Leno , Herbert Campbell , Little Tich , Clarice Mayne , Dorothy Ward and Cullen and Carthy . Traditionally performed around Christmas with family audiences, British pantomime continues as
11685-534: The pantomime, until the late 19th century, was the harlequinade . Outside of the British Isles, the word "pantomime" is often understood to mean miming , rather than the theatrical form described here. The word pantomime was adopted from the Latin word pantomimus , which in turn derives from the Greek word παντόμιμος ( pantomimos ), consisting of παντο- ( panto- ) meaning "all", and μῖμος ( mimos ), meaning
11808-420: The plot is common. Straight retellings of the original stories are rare. The form has a number of conventions, some of which have changed or weakened a little over the years, and by no means all of which are obligatory. Some of these conventions were once common to other genres of popular theatre such as melodrama . Another pantomime tradition is to engage celebrity guest stars, a practice that dates back to
11931-474: The plot. For instance "panto" versions of Aladdin may include elements from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves or other Arabian Nights tales; while Jack and the Beanstalk might include references to nursery rhymes and other children's stories involving characters called "Jack", such as Jack and Jill . Certain familiar scenes tend to recur, regardless of plot relevance, and highly unlikely resolution of
12054-427: The population exploded in the 1950s and 1960s. By the start of the 21st century, the 2001 population had grown to 79,715 reaching 83,957 a decade later (2011). As of 2016 the population is estimated at 87,100. As of the 2021 census, the religious makeup was: King George's Field , named in memory of King George V , hosts Stevenage Cricket Club, Stevenage Hockey Club and Stevenage Town Bowls Club. The cricket ground
12177-560: The position in 1966. He was succeeded by Evelyn Denington, Baroness Denington , who joined the board in 1950. Denington remained the chairman until the dissolution of the Corporation in 1980. Having become a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974, Denington was elevated to the peerage in 1978, choosing to assume the title of Baroness Denington of Stevenage. In keeping with
12300-562: The project to completion. Gordon Stephenson was the planner, Peter Shepheard the architect, and Eric Claxton the engineer. Claxton took the attitude that the new town should separate bicycles from the automobile as much as possible. Mary Tabor was the Housing Director of Stevenage New Town from 1951 until 1972. Tabor was a member of the Society of Women Housing Managers, which was founded by women trained under Octavia Hill . Mary Tabor, with
12423-550: The radical town planner Dr Monica Felton as his deputy. In 1949 she became chairman but she was sacked within two years. There were a number of reasons for her dismissal by the government but a lack of hands-on town planning leadership and her opposition to the Korean War (for which she was later awarded the Lenin Peace Prize ) sullied her reputation. Felton was replaced first by Allan Duff and later Thomas Bennett , who carried
12546-526: The renaissance of classical culture, Roman pantomime was a decisive influence upon modern European concert dance , helping to transform ballet from a mere entertainment, a display of technical virtuosity, into the dramatic ballet d'action . It became an antecedent which, through writers and ballet-masters of the 17th and 18th centuries such as Claude-François Ménestrier (1631–1705), John Weaver (1673–1760), Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810) and Gasparo Angiolini (1731–1803), earned it respectability and attested to
12669-406: The same date and has been governed by Stevenage Borough Council since. The population of Stevenage increased significantly during the 20th century. Little more than a large village at the start of the 19th century, the population in 1801 was 1,430. By 1901, Stevenage opened the 20th century with a population of 4,048. After Stevenage was designated a new town under the New Towns Act of 1946 ,
12792-432: The side of the old Great North Road that are presumably the burial places of members of a local family. The first Saxon camp, a little to the east of the Roman sites, was in a clearing in the woods where the church, the manor house and the first village were later built. Settlements also sprang up in Chells, Broadwater and Shephall. Before the New Town was established, Shephall was a separate parish, and Broadwater
12915-583: The sociological outlook of the day, the town was planned with six self-contained neighbourhoods. The first two of these to be occupied were the Stoney Hall and Monks Wood 'Estates', in 1951. The Twin Foxes pub, on the Monks Wood estate, was Stevenage's first 'new' public house and was named after local notorious identical-twin poachers ( Albert and Ebenezer Fox ). It closed in 2017. At least two other public houses have
13038-429: The spectacle of the productions, that pushed this transition by emphasizing comic business in the pantomime opening and grand processionals. By the end of the 19th century, the harlequinade had become merely a brief epilogue to the pantomime, dwindling into a brief display of dancing and acrobatics. It lingered for a few decades longer but finally disappeared, although a few of its comic elements had been incorporated into
13161-527: The stiff oak ". The name was recorded as Stithenæce in c. 1060 and as Stigenace in the Domesday Book in 1086. Stevenage lies near the line of the Roman road from Verulamium to Baldock . Some Romano-British remains were discovered during the building of the New Town, and a hoard of 2,000 silver Roman coins was discovered during housebuilding in the Chells Manor area in 1986. Other artefacts included
13284-516: The subject of Perseus and Andromeda . After this, pantomime was regular feature at Drury Lane. In 1717 at Lincoln's Inn, actor and manager John Rich introduced Harlequin into the theatres' pantomimes under the name of "Lun" (for "lunatic"). He gained great popularity for his pantomimes, especially beginning with his 1724 production of The Necromancer; or, History of Dr. Faustus . These early pantomimes were silent, or "dumb show", performances consisting of only dancing and gestures. Spoken drama
13407-436: The support of more than 40 housing management staff by 1960, provided a notably personal and caring service to tenants of the town. Many early residents of the town would recall with gratitude how much she had done for them and the town as a whole. In May 1953, Sir Roydon Dash took over the position of chairman from Bennett. In 1962, Sir Arthur Rucker was appointed Chairman of the Stevenage Development Corporation, retiring from
13530-551: The theatre should be named The Gordon Craig Theatre. This motion was passed. The £2.7 million sports and arts centre opened to the public on 3 November 1975 with a gala variety bill produced by Bunny Baron featuring Ted Rogers . The Leisure Centre was officially opened in February 1976 by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh , accompanied by the Director of Leisure Services at Stevenage Borough Council , Mr M. L. Banks. The theatre has
13653-463: The train station, and adjacent to the Gordon Craig Theatre . A number of other developments, including the conversion of a series of commercial spaces into residential facilities, are already completed or underway with a series of additional programmes set to launch in the coming years. Stevenage experiences an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ) similar to almost all of
13776-566: The turn of the century, the twin poachers Albert and Ebenezer Fox were active in the area. While in jail, they were studied by police commissioner Edward Henry to confirm his theory on the usefulness of fingerprinting in forensic science . In 1928 Philip Vincent bought the HRD Motorcycle Co Ltd out of receivership, immediately moving it to Stevenage and renaming it the Vincent HRD Motorcycle Co Ltd . He produced
13899-480: Was allowed in London only in the two (later three) patent theatres until Parliament changed this restriction in 1843. A large number of French performers played in London following the suppression of unlicensed theatres in Paris. Although this constraint was only temporary, English pantomimes remained primarily visual for some decades before dialogue was introduced. An 18th-century author wrote of David Garrick : "He formed
14022-494: Was an occasional guest of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton in nearby Knebworth House and knew Stevenage very well. Next to be built and occupied were the neighbourhoods of Bedwell in 1952, and then came Broadwater and Shephall (1953), Chells in the 1960s and later Pin Green and Symonds Green . Another new development to the north of the town is Great Ashby. As of 2014 it was still under construction. The Government gave almost £2 million for
14145-612: Was apprenticed to a butcher in Hitchin before opening an inn in Cheshunt . Due to the failure of his business, Whitney began robbing wealthy travellers and by 1690 he had a gang of over 50 men. On 10 July 1807, the Great Fire of Stevenage destroyed 42 properties in Middle Row, including Hellard's almshouse of 1501. The fire is believed to have been started when a young girl employed as
14268-463: Was demolished shortly afterwards to make way for Lytton Way. The council was based at Southgate House until 1980, when it moved to Daneshill House, which had previously been the headquarters of the New Town Corporation. The Local Government Act 1972 reconstituted Stevenage Urban District as a non-metropolitan district with effect from 1 April 1974. The town was awarded borough status on
14391-521: Was held on 4 December 1873 at the recently built Town Hall on Orchard Road. The first chairman of the board was George Becher Blomfield, who was the rector of the town's parish church of St Nicholas. Under the Local Government Act 1894 , the Local Board became Stevenage Urban District Council on 31 December 1894. Stevenage Urban District was enlarged several times, notably in 1953 when it absorbed
14514-553: Was merged with Stevenage Girls' School to become the Thomas Alleyne School. Francis Cammaerts was Headmaster of Alleyne's Grammar School from 1952 to 1961. The school, which has been since 1989 a mixed comprehensive school and is now an academy as of 2013, still exists on its original site at the north end of the High Street. It was intended to move the school to Great Ashby , but the Coalition government (2010–15) scrapped
14637-468: Was probably the home of Ralph de Homle. Pieces of Roman and later pottery have been found there. The oldest surviving house in Stevenage is Tudor House in Letchmore Street, built before 1500. During the 16th century it was a butcher 's shop owned by a man named Scott. From 1773 onwards it served as the town's workhouse , and later became a school from 1835 until 1885. It was the headquarters of
14760-484: Was put on hold due to a lack of capital. In 1968 a feasibility study was commissioned by Stevenage Urban District Council and the Stevenage Development Corporation for a combined Arts/Sports Centre. In 1969 Stevenage Urban District Council and Stevenage Development Corporation accepted the Initial Design Brief prepared by the architects. In 1972, the architects confirmed that the final design drawings were completed,
14883-674: Was split between the parishes of Shephall and Knebworth. During the 9th and 10th centuries AD, the Saxon village in Stevenage faced frequent attacks from Viking raiders. Stevenage was on the border of the Danelaw . A Viking spearhead was discovered by archaeologists at nearby Ardeley . According to the Domesday Book , in 1086 the Lord of the Manor was the Abbot of Westminster Abbey . The settlement had moved down to
15006-791: Was the first purpose-built traffic-free shopping zone in Britain , taking its inspiration from the Lijnbaan in Rotterdam, and was officially opened in 1959 by the Queen . A landmark in the town centre is the clock tower and ornamental pool. Nearby is Joyride , a mother and child sculpture by Franta Belsky . Next to the Town Garden, the Church of St Andrew and St George is an example of modern church design and has housed Stevenage Museum in its crypt since 1976. The church
15129-425: Was the first word (or the first word after the "or") because Harlequin was initially the most important character. The titles continued to include the word Harlequin even after the first decade of the 1800s, when Joseph Grimaldi came to dominate London pantomime and made the character, Clown, a colourful agent of chaos, as important in the entertainment as Harlequin. At the same time, Harlequin began to be portrayed in
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