arts
December 23, 2025
The panto that changed my life: ‘Aladdin showed the soothing joy of laughter
Vikki Stone’s festive tomfoolery, staged after the Covid lockdowns, captured that strange time and achieved a special giddiness
TL;DR
- The author's childhood in Zimbabwe did not include pantomime.
- The author first experienced panto through their nephew's eyes.
- Vikki Stone's "Aladdin" at the Lyric Hammersmith in 2021 significantly impacted the author's perspective on panto.
- The panto's ability to satirize current events and engage the audience was captivating.
- The author sees parallels between panto's audience interaction and Southern African performance traditions involving singing, dancing, and acting simultaneously.
- The author, a queer person from Zimbabwe, felt "Aladdin" helped them move beyond the "making Black/African work" box.
- The author co-wrote "Mama Goose" with Vikki Stone, featuring an African central dame.
Continue reading the original article