University news

A special exhibition celebrating the rich history of Glaswegian and Scottish pantomime has officially opened at Glasgow City Chambers, offering visitors a festive journey through one of Scotland’s most beloved traditions.

Curated by academics linked to the University of Glasgow, the exhibition plays a starring role in the Get You in Panto Town celebrations, which bring the Glasgow 850 programme to a festive finish.

Open now until Christmas Eve, the free exhibition charts the colourful story of Scotland’s beloved festive tradition, both past and present.

From pantomime’s stories, stars and humour, to its magnificent sets, costumes and its special place in the hearts of audiences, the exhibition captures the heart and history of the tradition that has delighted audiences for generations.

The curated display explores every facet of this unique art form, and Glasgow’s close relationship with it. Visitors can explore the history of favourite characters, top-of-the-bill stars, and legendary theatres.

Designed to be an immersive experience, the exhibition combines illustrated panels and life-size cut-out figures of Scottish pantomime stars together with interactive elements.

From its Victorian origins right up to the present day, the exhibition features pictures, photographs, programmes and playbills from a wide range of sources, including the Scottish Theatre Archive in Special Collections at the University of Glasgow Library, and the collections of performers, producers and audience members themselves.

Rare home movie footage from the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive, showing pantomimes from the 1930s to the 1950s, and audio recordings of interviews and music are also included.

The displays delve into the influence of music hall and variety, honour the great Scottish comedians of the past, and revisit famous productions like The Tintock Cup.

Originally produced for the research project Pantomime in Scotland: ‘Your other national theatre’ funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the exhibition has been updated to reflect the ways in which pantomime is constantly adapting and evolving.

This includes looking at Elaine C. Smith’s role as the first woman to headline as a dame and Johnny McKnight’s brilliant contemporary reimagining of pantomime stories at the Tron.

With generations of Glasgow audiences attending pantomimes in their thousands annually, the joyful and educational exhibition aims to share and celebrate its enduring legacy.

The project has been led by Professor Anselm Heinrich (Theatre Studies, University of Glasgow) with Dr Deven Parker (Leverhulme Fellow in Critical Studies, University of Glasgow) and Dr Paul Maloney (Research Follow on Pantomime in Scotland and former University of Glasgow Honorary Research Fellow in Theatre Studies).

Dr Paul Maloney, who was one of the planners of the original exhibition, and helped oversee the relaunch, said: “This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Glasgow’s favourite kind of theatre. Scotland has a really rich and vibrant pantomime tradition that remains distinctively Scottish. Glasgow in particular has always loved pantomime, and that has carried forward to the present day. This exhibition draws together all the different elements of our research – from telling the story of pantomime’s development to audio extracts of interviews with audience members and stars like Stanley Baxter recalling their experiences of going to, and performing in, pantomime. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, and learn more about, this much-loved part of our popular theatre-going heritage.”

Baillie Christie, City Convener for Culture, Sport and International Relations said: “We are thrilled to welcome this wonderful exhibition to the City Chambers as part of the Get You in Panto Town celebrations. Pantomime holds a special place in the hearts of Glaswegians, and this is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate and learn more about its unique history. This is our chance to celebrate everything we know and love about pantomime: the performers, their patter, sing-a-longs, dancing, costumes and the much-loved dames! It’s a perfect addition to our festive celebrations and highlights the important contribution pantomime has made and continues to make to our city’s cultural life."

 

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Get You in Panto Town Exhibition

The Get You in Panto Town Exhibition is free to enter and open at Glasgow City Chambers, Monday – Fridays from 8.30am – 5pm, until 24 December.

Pantos are running at venues across Glasgow until January 2025. For more information visit glasgow850.com/panto.

Glasgow 850

Glasgow 850 is a yearlong celebration in 2025 marking the 850th anniversary of Glasgow's establishment as a burgh in 1175. Throughout the year the city will mark its 850^th birthday by delivering, with partners, a yearlong, citywide, programme that celebrates and reflects on our recent past, our present and future. The programme of new signature events, enhancements to existing festivals, and community-based activities is being curated in a way that lets all those with a connection to Glasgow, at home and abroad, get involved to tell their stories, honouring our rich heritage, reflecting on our transformational growth, and inspiring ambitious change for the city’s next fifty years.

Marking this milestone acknowledges the contributions of generations who have shaped the city, gives a platform to grow a shared sense of belonging and invites people to guide our future. It also helps raise Glasgow’s profile on the global stage and encourage visitors to explore our unique city. For more information and to get involved visit glasgow850.com

First published: 5 December 2025