Happy P-Day #Panto-land!

Christmas in Britain wouldn’t be Christmas without Pantomime. It’s an intrinsic part of our cultural heritage and Christmas tradition, so much so that it should be celebrated in as many ways as possible. Pantomime has survived due to its willingness to evolve. It embraces the present whilst preserving the past. Through the years pantomimes have showcased the very latest in fashions, tastes, trends and technologies and so it seems only fitting that we should use Twitter, the social media website, to help celebrate this wonderful performance genre.

If you have a Twitter account, join us in our online panto celebrations on 1st December by tweeting anything and everything panto related. Don't forget to use the official P-Day hashtag: #panto! If you're not quite sure how to get involved, have a look at our suggestions below.

Here are some ideas for #panto related Tweets:

*Why not tell the Twittersphere why you love panto? Start a tweet with ‘I love #panto because…’

*Nostalgia plays a big role in our pantomime experience, so let the world know about your first time witnessing this magical artform. What pantomime was it? Who was in the cast? What else can you remember?

*Are you appearing in panto this year? If so, let everyone know where and when.

*Having a rehearsal on the 1st Dec? Live tweet! Don’t forget to include some pictures and/or video too.

*Who’s your favourite pantomime character or actor? Which title is your favourite? Why not give us your panto top three?

*Performing in panto on the 1st Dec? Tweet during the day to share your pre-show rituals and warm up. Let us know how it’s going during the interval and how you plan to celebrate once the curtain comes down. Why not make an announcement after the show to ask everyone to tweet in their views using your venue's '@' and '#panto'?

*P-Day is the perfect opportunity to provide us with all the latest panto news and gossip direct from your theatre or company’s Twitter account.

*Why not play director for the day and cast your dream panto? Justin Bieber as Buttons? Simon Cowell as Ugly Sister? Kylie as Cinders?

*If you’re going to a panto this year, let us know what you’re looking forward to? Have you already been? Let the theatre and cast know what you enjoyed!

*Audience participation is a vital genre conventions – so why not tweet your favourite pantomime catchphrases? Oh No It Isn’t! Behind You! Boo!

*Play P-Day #Panto Ping Pong! Tweet 'Is it P-Day: 1st Dec? A time to celebrate #panto? Oh Yes It Is!' at a fellow Tweeter. Get them to tweet back 'P-Day: 1st Dec? A time to celebrate #panto? Oh No It Isn't!' and see how long you can play the game for, taking it in turns! Invite other people into the game by using the '@' feature at the start of your tweets and interrupt play every now and again with a good old fashioned 'It's Behind You!' Don't forget to use the hashtag #panto each time you play. A simplified game might look something like this "@personA: Oh No It Isn't! #panto" "@personB Oh Yes It Is! #panto" "@personA Oh No It Isn't #panto".......

The following Tweeters have already pledged their P-Day #panto support:

@LyricHammer, @HackneyEmpire, @The_Churchill, @TRWinchester, @PrincesHall, @RichmondTheatre, @cambotheatre, @PHAPantos, @McKennaSusie, @shauncritten, @samuelgough, @benstockbiz, @liamrudden, @deanaustinmd, @jazzzerr, @Knittedgnome, @MrsNikkiNorton, @LMCosts, @sevenoakspanto, @Imagine_Theatre, @Pantomimes, @QdosPantomimes, @QdosNick, @MsKathrynRooney, @MattACampbell, @JennyWyvern, @PhilipMeeks, @CraigGlover, @JaneyCon, @anactorpantos, @rastigger, @argosyplayers, @djwilliamsact, @mark_siney, @ASHLIVE2010, @Paulmorseactor, @ben_roddy, @bradfitt, @CathHayworth, @westonpanto, @watersmeetpanto, @telfordpanto, @redhillpanto, @redditchpanto, @newarkpanto, @lowestoftpanto, @leedspanto, @derbypanto, @connaughtpanto, @catfordpanto, @broxbournepanto, @brid_panto, @SalisburyGiant, @GroveTheatre, @BruntonTheatre, @SkyMirror,@YorkTheatre, @WorthingTheatre, @TheatreWindsor, @ThomFeeney, @AbbigailWright, @KingsSouthsea, @LythgoeFamProd, @CapitolHorsham, @stagejobspro, @AnvilArts, @cultureactive, @EBTheatres, @OrchardSuzannah, @OrchardNic, @OrchardTheatre, @WokingTheatre, @Lloyd_LED, @YvonneArnaud, @TheatreRBath, @clwydtweets, @FCTTedinbugh, @TWhitter1, @DerbyLIVE, @KJ_mini, RevPLane, @MarkSmedley86, @NewWolsey, @PhilipMeeks, @MarinaTheatre1, @Grand_Theatre, @FCTTEdinburgh, @GlasgowPavilion, @SwanseaGrand, @NDevonTheatres, @ahttw, @HallforCornwall, @OxfordPlayhouse, @Jack_Mu, @PlayhouseWB, @LighthousePoole, @mindunit, @TRPlymouth, @TomCarradine, @QueensTheatreH, @SimplerDave, @JackShawTheatre, @GeorgeonKeys, @WolvesGrand, @New_Theatre, @WatfordPalace, @OldhamColiseum, @MKTheatre, @KLCornExchange, @BICPAV, @JaneDeane, @WesternSuperMum, @VickiMichelle1, @VenueCymru [Last Update: 22.33 - 30th Nov 2011. If you will be partaking in P-Day tweeting, '@' me @simonsladen and I'll add your name to the list on the 2nd Dec]

I look forward to reading all your #panto related tweets on 1st Dec as we celebrate our beloved art form social media style!

Happy #Panto-ing!

Simon (@simonsladen)