Henry James Byron

W. S. Gilbert Born: November 18, 1836 Died: May 29, 1911 Occupation: Dramatist Cite this Page: Citation

A complete guide to Pantomime – Loved by all generations and generally seen as a Christmas tradition, the pantomime is something familiar to many. It stands apart due to its eccentric take on a traditional fairy tale story. Alongside some gender reversal roles, slapstick comedy, colourful costumes and audience participation, the ‘panto’ seems to be a quintessentially English tradition. Pantomime is ingrained in British theatre, and is still popular today.

When it comes to Victorian theatre, only Oscar Wilde’s plays and the comic operas by Gilbert and Sullivan are regularly revived today. Once again Neil McPherson, artistic director of Finborough Theatre, gives theatregoers a rare chance to catch up on Britain’s theatrical past with a revival of H. J. Byron’s Cyril Success, which premiered in 1868, the same year the Finborough building was built. Henry James Byron (1834-1884) was the author of some 150 burlesques, comedies, farces and extravaganzas.