Going to the pantomime was a popular Victorian entertainment. Pantomimes generally began the day after Christmas, and the bigger and more spectacular the production, the more the audience loved it. The Victorians expected to be entertained on a grand scale, and the masks, costumes and scenery had to astound and astonish the viewer. Attending a pantomime was almost as exciting a ritual as Christmas itself, and the whole family would have enjoyed the outing.

Puss in Boots has been a much-loved story animated for the pantomime stage for centuries. Its story has roots in folklore going back even further, probably long before stories were written down. Instead, stories were told aloud, around the fire after the day’s toil was done, they featured an array of mythical beings such as elves, fairies, giants and talking animals.

Puss in Boots falls into the fairytale genre of narrative stories which are distinct from legends and parables as they don’t always have an underlying message. Yet our story does carry within it a questionable moral which this exhibition will, along with exploring the history of pantomime, endeavour to unravel.

Check opening times for the House and last admission times on the opening times page.

Standard admission charges apply.