A pantomime dame is a traditional role in British pantomime. It is a continuation of travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing. They wear big make up and big hair, have exaggerated physical features, and perform in a melodramatic style. While not from pantomime, possibly the best known of this type of character is Dame Edna Everage whose name plays on two meanings of dame: this tradition and the title equivalent to Sir.
Characters who are played as pantomime dames are often - though not exclusively - older, matronly women. Indeed, they may be the protagonist's mother, as in Jack and the Beanstalk and Robinson Crusoe, or a nursemaid to the protagonist, as in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. Although often warm and sympathetic characters, dames may also be employed as comic antagonists, such as with the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella. Some pantomimes traditionally do not contain standard dame roles, but certain productions may add a dame character, as in the case with many pantomime versions of Peter Pan. Further examples of these characters include:
Widow Twankey, the traditional name for Aladdin's mother in the pantomime versions of the story
Peter Alexander – (born 1952) Notable dame in pantomimes in Yorkshire.
Stanley Baxter – (born 1926) Award winning Scottish actor and impressionist, famous for his lavish productions, notably at The King's Theatre, Glasgow
Douglas Byng – (1893–1988) A legendary dame who appeared in over 50 pantomimes, Byng was also a noted cabaret and revue artiste. He was the first glamorous dame and designed all his own costumes.
Steven Blakeley – (born 1982) Blakeley has appeared in numerous pantomimes at Theatre Royal Windsor
Herbert Campbell (1844–1904) a highly popular pantomime dame alongside Dan Leno at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Les Dawson – (1931–1993) English comedian, remembered for his deadpan style and curmudgeonly persona.
Norman Evans – (1901–1962) "Evans' distinctive dame evolved out of nosy neighbour Fanny Fairbottom, a character he played on the sketch show Mr Tower of London. Fanny was hugely popular, and allegedly inspired Les Dawson to create the character of Ada"
Rikki Fulton – (1924–2004) Award winning Scottish actor and comedian who also made numerous appearances in Scottish pantomimes, notably at The King's Theatre, Glasgow
Patrick Fyffe – Creator of Dame Hilda Bracket, one half of Hinge and Bracket.
Melvyn Hayes – (born 1935) TV personality, actor well known for playing Gunner/Bombardier 'Gloria' Beaumont in BBC TV's It Ain't Half Hot Mum
John Inman – (1935–2007) Camp comedy actor well known for playing Mr Humphries in BBC TV's Are You Being Served?
Berwick Kaler – (born 1947) Currently Britain's longest serving, Kaler has played his extremely non-camp dame at York Theatre Royal since 1977
George Lacey – "Widely regarded as the greatest dame of his generation, Lacey played more than 60 dames between 1923, when he was 19, and 1984"
Dan Leno – (1860–1904) a legendary pantomime dame, whose ghost is said to haunt the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
James Rogers – The first actor to play Widow Twankey, in the 1861 pantomime at the Strand Theatre.
Danny La Rue – (1927–2009) Irish-born British entertainer known for his singing and drag impersonations
G. S. Melvin – (1886–1946) Scottish pantomime dame famous for his song "I'm Happy When I'm Hiking".
Paul O'Grady – (born 1955) British comedian and actor best known for presenting the daytime chat television series, The Paul O'Grady Show and his drag queen comedic alter ego, Lily Savage.
Shaun Prendergast (born 1958) – Resident Dame at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith since 2010. Has been quoted in the Daily Telegraph as being 'finest, funniest pantomime Dame in London'.
Harry "Little Tich" Relph – (1867–1928) He was noted for his various characters, including The Spanish Señora, The Gendarme, and The Tax Collector, but his most popular routine was his Big Boot dance, which involved a pair of 28-inch boots.
Kenneth Alan Taylor – actor, writer director who has performed at Nottingham Playhouse for 25 years.
Tommy Trafford – (1927–1993) Lancashire comedian and noted pantomime dame.
Jack Tripp – (1922–2005) An English comic actor, singer and dancer who appeared in seaside variety shows and revues.
John Linehan (born 1952) – Northern Irish actor and pantomime dame better known as the character May McFettridge. Resident Dame at Grand Opera House, Belfast.
Harry Lee (born 1950) – Northern English actor and pantomime dame. Resident Dame at Partington Players Theatre, Glossop.
