Panto Is Magical! Oh Yes It Is! Quiz

Answer: At Christmas time - December or January

Pantomime is a Christmas/New Year entertainment. In earlier times the panto season could last for several months, but professional pantomimes nowadays run for about three to six weeks, depending on whether the cast features much loved local performers or stars specially brought in.

Answer: Pantomime productions lose money and need to be heavily subsidised.

The pantomime season is the one time of year when theatres are virtually guaranteed to make money.

Pantomime was a popular form of musical entertainment in ancient Greece and Rome. British forerunners include medieval mummers, 17th century masques and harlequinades based on the Italian commedia dell'arte, but panto itself began in the 18th century. The "pantomime dame" is traditionally played by a man in drag and the "principal boy" is often, but nowadays not invariably, a girl. In spite of this, pantomime is considered family entertainment and provides many children with their first experience of live theatre.

Answer: False

Oh no it isn't! Audience participation is not only permitted, it is compulsory. Baddies must be hissed and goodies warned of their presence ("He's behind you!") and there is always a song for everyone to join in.

Answer: Finding Nemo

"Finding Nemo" has yet to find a place in the British pantomime canon, though it might lend itself to some colourful deep sea dance routines. The pantomime versions of the other three stories long predate the Hollywood animated versions.

Answer: Wishy Washy

Wishy Washy works in the laundry that his mother runs in Old Peking. "Aladdin" was first performed in London at the end of the 18th century and Widow Twankey, whose name was derived from a cheap kind of tea, made her first appearance in 1861. Latterday productions of "Aladdin" tend to be influenced by the animated Disney film released in 1992.

Answer: The Goose in "Mother Goose"

Priscilla is the goose that lays golden eggs. Mother Goose is perhaps the most demanding role in the repertoire of damehood, requiring the title character to start off lovable but become unsympathetic when her head is turned by her new-found wealth.

Answer: Dick Whittington

Alderman Fitzwarren is a wealthy London merchant for whom Dick Whittington works and whose daughter Alice he loves. One of the most evil characters in panto, King Rat (or sometimes Queen Rat) causes Dick to be falsely accused of stealing from the Alderman and in some productions conjures up the storm that wrecks the ship on which Dick and his faithful cat have stowed away. Dick's fortune is made when the cat rids Morocco, where they are cast ashore, of King Rat and all his henchmen.

Richard Whittington was a real-life medieval merchant who was Lord Mayor of London on three occasions. There is no conclusive evidence that he actually owned a cat, but he did marry Alice Fitzwarren.

Answer: Mickey Rooney

At the age of 86 Mickey Rooney played Baron Hardup, Cinderella's father, at the Sunderland Empire. He repeated the role at the Bristol Hippodrome in 2008 and the Milton Keynes Theatre in 2009. His eighth wife, Jan Rooney, appeared with him as the Fairy Godmother.

The original pantomime guest artistes were stars of the music hall. In time they were replaced by pop stars, television presenters, British or Australian soap stars or even sporting personalities or politicians. Hollywood actors are a 21st century panto phenomenon. Steve Guttenberg, Henry Winkler, Pamela Anderson and Priscilla Presley have all made pantomime appearances.

Answer: Christopher Biggins

Christopher Biggins won "I'm A Celebrity ..." in 2007. As well as playing a dame for over thirty years, his acting career has included "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the BBC comedy "Porridge". The other three performers were all panto greats, but avoided reality TV.

Answer: Ian McKellen

Though "serious" actors quite often play pantomime villains, it is unusual for such a distinguished classical actor to portray the dame. "Aladdin" was a departure for the Old Vic and was revived the following year, again with Ian McKellen as Widow Twankey.

The critical consensus seemed to be that McKellen was a success, but the production as a whole was less enjoyable than a more conventional pantomime.