In the weeks running up to Christmas, pantomimes take centre stage in theatres across the country. For many children, their first theatre-experience is seeing the pantomime at Christmas. "I think ...

There is an old joke. A veteran actor takes a job in pantomime. One night, as he straps on the back-end of a panto horse, he wonders aloud what happened to his career. A wag replies: "It’s behind you!