English Panto?

Question:When did panto's start being part of our Christmas and why is the leading male role always played by a female ?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: When did panto's start being part of our Christmas and why is the leading male role always played by a female ?

Women were not usually allowed to be in plays at that time. It's just tradition now, plus for comic effect.

The panto was around even in Victorian times, probably about early 1800sit started becoming popular. Men played all the parts then and the reversed roles were comical. I assume this was reversed for fun later on. It's not always a female who plays lead male though.

What do you intend to do with this information? Because as a researcher, I get paid to find out.