Est: 2016
DAMES
oh yes it is...
IN PANTO
"The Dame is one of the TRUE traditions
of UK Theatre!"
A pantomime dame is a traditional role in British pantomime. It is part of the theatrical tradition of travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. Dame characters are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting butch in women's clothing. The dame has been the highlight for many pantomime audience's over the years and the role has been taken on by many famous and talented faces. Have a look below at some of dames over the years.
Highlights of a dame on film
Roy Alvis
1969/70: Cinderella - Darlington Civic
1970/71: Cinderella - Doncaster Civic
1971/72: Cinderella - Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
1973/74: Cinderella - Gaumant Thetare, Doncaster
1974/75: Cinderella - Floral Hall, Scarborough
1975/76: Sleeping Beauty - Camberley Civic
1976/77: Mother Goose - Camberley Civic
1977/78: Cinderella - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
1978/79: Mother Goose - Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
1979/80: Cinderella - St Albans City Hall
1980/81: Cinderella - Hornsey
1981/82: Cinderella - Nell Gywnne Theatre, Hereford
1984/85: Cinderella - Hanley Theatre Royal
1985/86: Puss in Boots - Camberley Civic
1986/87: Cinderella - Kirkcaldy, Adam Smith Theatre
1987/88: Jack and the Beanstalk - Kirkcaldy, Adam Smith Theatre
1988/89: Cinderella - Orchard Theatre, Dartford
1989/90: Aladdin - Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford
1990/91: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Theatre Royal, Hanley
1991/92: Dick Whittington - Horsham Arts Centre
1992/93: Jack and the Beanstalk - Kings Theatre, Southsea
1993/94: Jack and the Beanstalk - Charter Theatre, Preston
1994/95: Jack and the Beanstalk - Horsham Arts Centre
1995/96: Mother Goose - Pontrypridd Muni Arts Centre
1996/97: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Porthcawl Grand Pavilion
1997/98: Aladdin - Camberley Arts Link
1998/99: Aladdin - Weston Super Mare Playhouse
1999/00: Jack and the Beanstalk - Porthcawl Grand Pavilion
2004/05: Jack and the Beanstalk - Horsham Arts Centre
Video: Roy Alvis performs Toy Boy from Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs 1990
David Ashley
2011/12: Cinderella - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2012/13: Aladdin (Not as Dame - As Abanazar) Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2013/14: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2014/15: Dick Whittington - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2015/16: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2016/17: Cinderella - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2022/23: Beauty and the Beast - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
2023/24: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
Video: 2016 panto launch video featuring David Ashley
Video: 2014 panto launch video featuring David Ashley
Martin Ballard
Martin was a presenter at BBC Radio Leicester for 37 years and is an actor with thirty years experience of pantomime so far. He is also a stadium announcer at Leicester Tigers and works as a voice-over artist, compere and event host.
1992/93: Peter Pan - De Montfort Hall Leicester
1993/94: Aladdin - De Montfort Hall Leicester
1994/95: Cinderella - De Montfort Hall Leicester
1995/96: Jack and The Beanstalk - Stardust Theatre
1998/99: Aladdin - Loughborough Town Hall Theatre
1999/00: Cinderella - Loughborough Town Hall
2000/01: Hansel & Gretal - Loughborough Town Hall
2001/02: Jack and The Beanstalk - Loughborough Town Hall
2002/03: Beauty & The Beast - Loughborough Town Hall
2003/04: Aladdin - Loughborough Town Hall
2004/05: Cinderella - Loughborough Town Hall
2005/06: Dick Whittington - Loughborough Town Hall
2006/07: Jack & The Beanstalk - Loughborough Town Hall
2007/08: Sleeping Beauty - Loughborough Town Hall
2008/09: Aladdin - Loughborough Town Hall
2009/10: Beauty & The Beast - Loughborough Town Hall
2010: BBC Children In Need Panto - East Midlands Airport
2010 /11: Cinderella - Loughborough Town Hall
2011/12: Mother Goose - Loughborough Town Hall
2012/13: Dick Whittington - Loughborough Town Hall
2013/14: Aladdin - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2014/15: Cinderella - Royal Spa Centre Leamington
2015/16: Snow White - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2016/17: Jack & The Beanstalk - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2017/18: Beauty & The Beast - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2018/19: Peter Pan - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2019/20: Aladdin - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
2021/22: Sleeping Beauty -De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Pulled out with leg injury
2022/23: Cinderella - De Montfort Hall
Casted but did not appear through illness
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Jack Ballard
Jack Ballard took over as resident Dame at Leicester De Montford Hall from his dad in 2023. Previous to this he took part in the UK Tour of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain, Alice in Wonderland, Repunzel and Robin Hood.
2023/24: Jack and the Beanstalk - De Montford Hall, Leicester
2024/25: Snow White - De Montford Hall, Leicester
Trevor Bannister
Trevor Gordon Bannister (14 August 1934 – 14 April 2011) was an English actor best known for having played the womanising junior salesman Mr Lucas in the sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1979, and for his role as Toby Mulberry Smith in the long-running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, from 2003 until it ended its run in 2010.
1978/79: Robinson Crusoe - Mecca State Theatre, Grays
1979/80: Aladdin - Theatre Royal Windsor
1981/82: Dick Whittington - Beck Theare Hayes
1983/84: Aladdin - Chichester Festival Theatre
1984/85: Aladdin - Congress Theatre Eastbourne
1985/86: The Wizard of Oz - Kings Theatre Southsea
1986/87: Dick Whittington - Beck Theatre Hayes
1992/93: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wyvern Theatre in Swindon
1994/95: Sleeping Beauty - Crewe Lyceum
1995/96: Snow White - Harlequin Theatre Redhill
1996/97: Jack and the Beanstalk - Poole Arts Centre
1997/98: Jack and the Beanstalk - Harlequin Theatre Redhill
1998/99: Jack and the Beanstalk - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford
1999/00: Aladdin - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford
2000/01: Jack & The Beanstalk - Theatre Royal Windsor
2001/02: Dick Whittington - Theatre Royal Windsor
2002/03: Mother Goose - Middlesborough Theatre
2003/04;: Aladdin - Lyceum Theatre Sheffield
2004/05: Aladdin - Riverfront Newport
