Curtain Up

Pantomime is a very British tradition, still as popular as ever with audiences. The traditional Christmas shows are also an important income generator for regional theatres and big production companies. Global Business goes to Nottingham to follow the progress of the city's two rival pantomimes - one - Jack and the Beanstalk - made in-house at the Nottingham Playhouse, with a much-loved dame making his 30th (and last) pantomime performance and the other - Peter Pan - at the Theatre Royal, brought in from a big pantomime-making production company starring the American Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff also known as ''The Hoff'. Peter Day finds out what is involved and why pantomimes matter so much to regional theatres.

Image credit: Robert Day