Luke Alsford
Published December 1, 2025 11:47am
Updated December 1, 2025 12:22pm
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Conservatives have been mocked for wanting to cancel a traditional pantomime dame show
Conservatives have been told to ‘touch grass’ after trying to ban a traditional Christmas panto… for being a panto.
Right-wingers have threatened to protest a Christmas theatre show in Richmond because they are angry at the appearance of a pantomime dame.
The campaigners have had to be reminded there is’ nothing more British’ than a panto drag act, which dates back more than 200 years.
Dragged Around London are performing are holding a ‘family-friendly’ ‘Drag Tales’ Xmas show on December 19 at Richmond Theatre in west London, starring drag queen Tania LeCoq.
The pantomime show is billed as ‘family-friends’
The experience, for ages 0 to 5, promises ‘captivating storytelling, joyful carols, energetic dancing, and delightful puppet shows.’
However the production has sparked fury among a fringe of Conservatives, raging at the drag queen Tania LeCoq leading the ‘festive experience’.
Turning Point UK, the British arm of assassinated right-winger Charlie Kirk’s organisation, threatened to protest against the show.
They called on the venue to ‘protect our children’ and shut the event down.
One 17-year-old activist called Young Bob, who is an ambassador for Turning Point UK, complained on TalkTV that ‘five year olds are too young to explore this material’.
He said the pantomime show was a ‘marxist delusion’ that was ‘hypersexualising children’.
After threatening to protest the event, people have stepped in to remind Turning Point that festive drag shows are nothing new.
Tania LeCoq is fronting the shows
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Karl Hansen, editor-at-large of left-wing Tribune Magazine, said on X: ‘There is nothing more British than a pantomime dame. Our young conservatives have been so Yankified they no longer recognise their own culture.’
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GB News’ Tom Harwood even said of Young Bob: ‘Poor Guy. Never been taken to see a traditional family panto in his life.’
One west London local recalled: ‘I saw several pantomimes at Richmond Theatre during my childhood, and there was nothing “perverted” about any of the performances.
‘No cast members exposing themselves and all, just wearing silly costumes and wigs for the laughs.’
What is the history of the pantomime dame?
Ian McKellen (left) is a beloved pantomime drag act (Picture: Manuel Harlan)
The role of a panto dame dates back to the beginning of theatre.
Girls and women were often played by men for comedic purposes.
The humorous tradition continued well after the Restoriation, when it was no longer considered ‘indecent’ for a women to appear on stage.
One of the most famous pantomime dames was music hall comedian Dan Leno.
His performance as Mother Goose, with a bun-wig, shawl andbutton boots, created the blueprint for modern panto dames.
Some of Britain’s most famous actors have taken to the stage in drag.
Sir Ian McKellen and the late Paul O’Grady have all left young audiences in stitches as pantomime dames.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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