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Introduction
The tradition of women dressing up as men on stage started in the 18th century. Male roles played by women were known as 'breeches parts'. With the increase in popularity of the ballerina in Romantic Ballet male dancers went out of fashion and women would often perform the male role. In the theatre Madame Vestris made her name playing the roles of boys and men in burlesques and operas. This was a period when women dressed modestly covering their legs with long dresses. To see a woman in short trousers and tights was considered particularly risqué and Madame Vestris was the sex symbol of the 1830s.
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Madame Vestris as Orpheus |
Like the pantomime dame, the principal boy character evolved slowly throughout the 19th century. Women such as Vesta Tilley made their names as male impersonators in the music halls before treading the boards in pantomimes as principal boys.
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Vesta Tilley as Principal Boy |
By the 1880s the hero role in the pantomime was always played by a woman.
Famous principal boys have included Marie Lloyd, the Queen of the Music Halls; and in the 20th century, Dorothy Ward.
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Dorothy Ward |
More recently principal boys have been played by TV soap stars, pop stars and sports personalities. In the 1950s and 1960s there was a trend for male principal boys with pop stars like Cliff Richard playing the role.
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Cliff does panto |
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Pantomime Annual |
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