John Weaver (dancer)
John Weaver, born around 1673 in Shrewsbury, England, is recognized as a pioneering figure in the development of British pantomime. He was the son of a dancing master and began his dance training as a young boy. Weaver’s significant contributions to the performing arts emerged in the early 1700s when he began creating shows that combined dance with elements of theatre, eventually leading to the establishment of British pantomime. His first notable pantomime, "The Loves of Mars and Venus," premiered in 1717 and showcased his innovative use of miming over dialogue to convey stories.
Weaver's performances incorporated various artistic elements from European theatrical traditions, such as ballet and commedia dell'arte, and he emphasized slapstick humor and audience interaction, which remains a hallmark of modern pantomime. His works laid the groundwork for the holiday-themed performances that are now staples in British culture, often characterized by traditional fairy tales and lively audience participation. Weaver's influence is so profound that he is often referred to as the father of British pantomime, and his legacy continues to shape the genre today, particularly during the Christmas season when pantomimes are widely staged. He passed away in 1760, leaving behind a lasting impact on the world of dance and theatre.
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Subject Terms
John Weaver (dancer)
Dancer, Father of British Pantomime
- Born: July 21, 1673
- Place of Birth: Place of birth: Shrewsbury, England
- Died: September 24, 1760
- Place of Death: Place of death: Shrewsbury, England
Significance: Known as the father of British pantomime, John Weaver helped develop the art form of pantomime in the early 1700s.
Background
John Weaver was born in Shrewsbury, England, most likely in 1673. Weaver’s father was also a dancer who was named a dancing master at Oxford University. Weaver became involved in dancing at a young age. He became an apprentice to a dancing master in Shrewsbury around 1695. Weaver continued to dance and eventually helped create a new art form that mixed dance with other types of performances. This new art form eventually became the British pantomime. Weaver also published a number of books throughout his life including An Essay towards a History of Dancing (1712), Anatomical and Mechanical Lectures upon Dancing (1721), History of Mimes and Pantomimes(1728).
Life’s Work
Weaver was involved in the theater community and created shows that were staged in London. His work was based on ballet, theater, and other types of performances that developed in Europe from as early as the 1500s.
The earliest forms of ballet were performances put on in Renaissance Italy and included music, dancing, and poetry. Later, elaborate dances were formed in France, though these dances had little plot. The first ballet for which the score survived was performed in Paris in the 1500s. Ballet continued to develop into the 1600s. At this time, dancers were becoming more skilled and audiences focused more on the dancing than on other elements of the performance.
In the 1600s, the performance style called commedia dell'arte developed in Italy. These shows featured music, dance, and speaking. They eventually began to be shown in Great Britain and France. As these performances were staged in new countries, however, performers began miming much of the performance instead of translating the original language. This miming became an important part of the performance. By the end of the 1600s, commedia dell'arte performances were taking place in Great Britain. Weaver helped develop these performances further into what would later become British pantomime. Weaver first produced a show of pantomime on an English stage in the early 1700s. The show "Tavern Bilkers" was first produced on Drury Lane in 1702.
Weaver was one of the first people to use the term pantomime to describe his performances. His first and best-known pantomime was "The Loves of Mars and Venus," which was first produced in 1717. This show was one of his most important works and made a lasting effect on the art of pantomime because it brought together the arts of mime and dance. Over the next few years, Weaver produced other shows including "Perseus and Andromeda," "Orpheus and Eruydice," "Harlequin Turn’d Judge," and "Cupid and Bacchus." With these shows, he continued to develop his style and influence the art that would become British pantomime.
Weaver's performances helped change the face of British dance and entertainment and helped introduce pantomime in Britain. Weaver, whose background was mostly in dance, maintained the dance in the performances. He emphasized removing speaking from the performances and instead used miming to tell the story during the performance. As the performances evolved, they began to blend in British myths and fairy tales. Also, they started to feature slapstick, whose name comes from the wooden sword in Harlequin performances.
During the 1700s, theater and performance were a very important part of British culture. People from all different classes attended the theater multiple nights per week, allowing the theater to have a big influence in the community. During that time, pantomimes were first shown in the Lincoln’s Inn Field Theatre and the Drury Lane Theatre in Britain.
British pantomime has evolved over the years since Weaver first introduced it to the British public. Today, pantomime is a form of entertainment for children and is mostly shown during the Christmas season, even though Christmas is not explicitly referenced in traditional pantomime performances. The pantomimes of today include some of the elements of older pantomimes, such as song, dance, and slapstick. These modern performances also include mild innuendo, jokes, and some audience participation—such as the audience booing a villain or cheering a hero.
British pantomime, which is often called panto, has a regular set of characters, such as the dame (often played by a man), the hero (often played by a woman), and the heroine. Monsters or other frightening creatures such as spiders are also common. Audience heckling is common and encouraged, and actors might ad lib lines in response to the audience.
Theater companies produce a number of traditional pantomimes every year. Traditional British pantomimes include "Cinderella," "Aladdin," and "Jack and the Beanstalk." Today, some theater companies produce new pantomimes, but they are often based on traditional stories and tales. Even though pantomimes are based on stories, they rarely retell the original story exactly as it was written. Instead, these performances take liberties with the storylines and may add or remove scenes. Pantomime today is specific mostly to Britain, though some panto performances are staged in the United States and other countries.
Impact
Weaver was an innovator who had a huge impact on the future of pantomime and dance in general. His influence included emphasizing miming and reducing speaking in performances. He also included mixed dance with other types of performing. Because of his influence, Weaver is sometimes called the father of British pantomime.
Personal Life
Weaver married a woman whose name was Catherine or Katherine. The couple had at least three children, but one died in infancy. Weaver’s first wife died in 1712, and he remarried. He and his second wife, Susanna, also had children together. Weaver died in Shrewsbury, England, in 1760.
Bibliography
"About Pantomime." The British Players. The British Players, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016.
Christopher, David. British Culture: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. p. 74.
Blanning. Tim. "The Making of History: John Weaver and the Enlightenment." The Cambridge Companion to Ballet, ed. Marion Kant. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.
"Early Pantomime." Victoria and Albert Museum. Victoria and Albert Museum, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016. Print.
Highfill, Philip H., Kalman A. Burnim, and Edward A. Langhans. Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel In London, 1660-1800: Volume 15: Tibbett to M. West. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993. Print.
"’It’s Behind You!’ A Look into the History of Pantomime." University of York. University of York, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016.
"John Weaver." Oxford Index. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016.
"John Weaver in Shrewsbury." Original Shrewsbury Blog, 2 May 2023, originalshrewsbury.co.uk/blog/john-weaver-in-shrewsbury. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
"What Is Panto?" The Laughing Stock Theater Society. The Laughing Stock Theater Society, n.d. Web. 26 May 2016.