Mickey Rooney Headlines Bristol Panto

The old trooper is playing Baron Hardup in the Bristol Hippodrome's current Panto, Cinderella

Now, if you don't know what a Panto is, some of the above won't make much sense. So here's a translation. Mickey Rooney, still crazy after all these years, is playing the stock character Baron Hardup - Cinderella's father - in a traditional, British winter time entertainment known as a panto - or pantomime. Pantos, loosely based on familiar stories, have more in common with vaudeville and music hall than they do with the silent performers called "mimes".

This time of year, Pantos are entertaining families with riotous and slightly bawdy comedies all over the UK.

• Find a list of this year's top Pantos around the UK
• Learn about what a Panto actually is!

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