The story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
This story has a long history that stretches back several centuries and has grown over time to become a standard in children’s literature and, eventually, of British pantomime.
To find out where the pantomime version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears came from, it’s essential to understand the origin of the story itself, how it became a cultural icon, and then how it then transformed into pantomime.
Early Origins of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
The Goldilocks tale has its roots in tradition folklore, it appears that the first written version came from the early 19th century. But it was slightly different from one we have today where a little girl named Goldilocks enters the home of three bears.
In the first version that appeared in the book The Story of the Three Bears by British author and poet Robert Southey in 1837. We are told that it was an old woman who came into the bears’ house, not a young girl. In Southey’s version though the bears do act like humans, they live in a cottage in the forest, except it is the old woman who invades their home, tries their porridge, sits in their chairs, and sleeps in their beds. The difference is that when the bears return and discover her, she jumps out of a window and runs away. It appears that in Southey’s version there was no mentioned a young girl with golden hair, but it did lay the groundwork for the versions that followed.
Then a few years later, another story emerged, this time the old woman had been replaced by a young girl. Over time, this young girl grew into the blonde-haired, mischievous girl named Goldilocks. By the early 20th century, this version had become a classic version of the story, making Goldilocks and the Three Bears one of the most popular and recognizable fairy tales in the English-speaking world.
With a story like this it wasn’t long before Goldilocks and the Three Bears caught the attention of pantomime producers. The story’s simplicity, its trio of cuddly, talking bears, and the comical premise of Goldilocks intruding on their home made it irresistible for a panto producers. The attraction of the fairy tale blended well with the shared and slapstick nature of pantomime, where breaking the fourth wall by engaging with the audience are key components of the experience.
The First Pantomime Adaptations
The first known pantomime version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was produced in the late 19th or early 20th century, though exact dates and details are scarce. Yet by the 20th century, the story had become a fixture in pantomime lineups, appealing to children and families with its combination of fairy tale familiarity and theatrical spectacle. The characters of the Three Bears—Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear—were easily adapted into larger-than-life pantomime figures, and Goldilocks herself became a bold, adventurous heroine.
What is interesting about the pantomime is that from it grew an interesting adaptation Goldilocks and the Three Bears,became a circus-themed pantomime, which arrived in the 1950s. It took the same origins of the fairy tale but places Goldilocks in a circus setting, where she must save a struggling circus from the villainous ringmaster.
The story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” stretches back several centuries and has grown over time into staple of children’s literature and, eventually, into British pantomime. The pantomime adaptation of Goldilocks is a vibrant, theatrical reinterpretation of the classic tale, blending traditional elements of storytelling with the unique characteristics of British panto—a comedic, interactive form of theatre performed particularly during the Christmas season.
Isn’t history fun?
Here are 10 discussion questions based on the blog:
- How does the original version of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” differ from the version we know today, and why do you think the character of the old woman was replaced by a young girl?
- What cultural factors might have influenced the transformation of the “Goldilocks” story from folklore into children’s literature?
- Why do you think Robert Southey’s version of the story, which featured an old woman, did not become the dominant version in popular culture?
- What elements of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” make the story well-suited for adaptation into British pantomime?
- How does the interactive, comedic nature of British pantomime contribute to the appeal of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” in this theatrical format?
- What significance does the introduction of a circus theme in the 1950s version of the pantomime bring to the original fairy tale?
- Why do you think the transformation of Goldilocks into a bold, adventurous heroine was an important change for the pantomime version of the story?
- How does the evolution of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” reflect broader trends in storytelling and theatrical adaptation over the centuries?
- In what ways does the modern pantomime version of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” appeal to contemporary audiences, especially families and children?
- How has the inclusion of the Three Bears as larger-than-life characters in pantomime shaped the overall dynamic of the story?
Some Web sites were you could find more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldilocks_and_the_Three_Bears
https://fairytale.fandom.com/wiki/Goldilocks_and_the_Three_Bears