PANTOMIMES are a festive season staple for many families across the UK.

Parents and children enjoy an evening of laughs, cheers and the customary “It’s behind you!”

One of the most iconic features in every pantomime is of course the dame.

Bringing the classic mix of comedy, cheek and a little bit of motherly advice, the dame is often the character that steals the show at Christmas.

But what does it take to become a classic pantomime dame?

The Mail reporter Michael Thomas went behind the scenes at The Forum in Barrow to find out.

With the help of this year's pantomime dame Steve Boyce, Michael learned about all the work that goes on to get them ready for the stage.

From making each of the outfits from scratch to sitting in the make up chair, not to mention all of those costume changes, there is certainly more to being a dame than most of us would think.

Steve talked about how he realised he wanted to be a dame and how he made his way to the pantomime stage.

He said: “As a child, I only ever saw one pantomime.

“When I was eight or nine years old my family took me to see Aladdin which starred the Krankies.

“But there was no family tradition of panto when I was a child.

“When I was 19 I properly discovered panto through my boyfriend at the time.

“He worked in panto and when we went together it really struck a chord with me. “From this point I became really obsessed with panto and tried to watch as many as possible.

“I already knew I wanted to be an actor but it was at this point I decided the dame looked the most fun and the role really struck a chord with me.

“As a northern lad, I grew up surrounded by strong women and I saw different elements of their personalities in the dame character.

“Before getting my first dame role, I spent some time playing the baddie. Then I worked in costume and even spent some time away from acting.

“But eventually I said to myself ‘being the dame was always the dream, so now it's time to make it happen’.

“So, in 2017 I wrote my own pantomime show called the Dame Dolly Donut Show and I took it to Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“Whilst there I met producer James Shone.

“He enjoyed the show and in September that year he offered me a last minute role as a dame in one of his shows.

“The show went well and so he asked me to come back and play the dame in his latest panto here in Barrow.”

Steve also talked about getting his dream role.

He said: “I think if you’re a dame you know deep down before it even happens.

“For some of us it really is like a calling and an investment.

“Traditionally, dames provide their own costumes, and that was something I wanted to do.

“My dame character takes inspiration from strong women in my life like my mum.

“But also other characters like Mrs Slocombe from Are You Being Served and a few of the women in the Carry On films.

“For me it's about taking elements you like from elsewhere and adapting it to your own signature style.”

Looking back at his crash course on being a pantomime dame, The Mail reporter Michael Thomas said: “When my editor called me and asked me to be a pantomime dame I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself in to.

“But it was interesting to speak to Steve and learn more about everything that goes on behind the scenes and about the panto dame character.

“I think I’ll stick to journalism though, I definitely wouldn’t be able to survive in those high heels and keep up with all those costume changes.”

Pantomime goers can catch Steve and the rest of the cast of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Forum this Christmas.

Shows start on December 18 and throughout the festive period until January 5.