UK NEWS

UNIVERSITY GIVEN £500K TO 'STUDY' ALADDIN

Cash up in smoke? Aladdin as portrayed by Christopher Biggins

Saturday June 23,2007

By Paul Gilbride

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THERE were cries of “Oh no it’s not,” when a £500,000 grant for academics to study the cultural impact of Cinders, Aladdin and Co was described as a farce.

Researchers at Glasgow University are to study effects pantomimes have on society.

Critics of the move said it sounded more like slapstick than a serious way to spend public money. Glasgow MSP Sandra White, of the SNP, dismissed the study as a farce.

She said: “This sounds like a pantomime in itself. The money could be better spent on far more worthwhile projects.

“Spending public money to find out something anyone in the street could tell you about, is a complete waste of money.”

Tory MSP Bill Aitken also criticised the project, saying: “It’s hardly the best use of public money. The only thing that
matters about panto is if people enjoy it or not. There’s no great philosophical meaning.

“Our universities can hardly claim they are strapped for cash if this expenditure is allowed.”

But Paul Maloney, the project’s research fellow, said: “Pantomime is still enormously popular. It has always been seen as part of the country’s rich and vibrant popular theatre tradition.

“The project will allow us to analyse its appeal, by exploring Scottish pantomime in all its aspects, from professional,
amateur and community activity to the recollection of audiences, performers and backstage workers of all generations.”

Academics will study the cultural significance of Mother Goose, Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk. Researchers will also assess the appeal of stars such as The Krankies, Gerard Kelly and Dean Park, Stanley Baxter and the late Rikki Fulton.

Audience members will be quizzed on their memories of pantos over the years.
The cash is part of a £2million grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for a number of studies.

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