imaginary beasts

imaginary beasts...
 
 ...is an incubator for adventurous theatre making. 
 
We provide our members a unique chance to explore and develop theatre in an ongoing studio environment. 
 
Devoted to pushing the boundaries of how theatre is made and who can make it, we bring together traditional and non-traditional performance artists to produce work for an eclectic public.

One of the foundations of our production history has been our annual winter Panto!  These family friendly events -- inspired by the popular British holiday entertainment -- have become a tradition for many of our audience members. 

Our current Panto is being produced in Topsfield, MA - where our first Pantos were performed 21 years ago! This year's Panto, Casey at the Bat, is being produced at the newly restored Town Hall in Topsfield, MA.  “Panto” is a traditional form of entertainment whose origins can be traced back to commedia dell'arte. The style shares a pedigree with theatrical forms like Vaudeville and Victorian dance hall.  Audiences are encouraged to participate by lending their hands and voices at key moments, encouraged by the ensemble. For the past twenty one years, imaginary beasts has kept the Panto tradition alive in the States- one of only a handful of American companies to produce an annual Panto.
 
the beasts acclaim among Boston’s theatre-goers is increasing with each and every production, noting four 2024 Elliot Norton Award nominations and many past Independant Reviewers of New England (IRNE) awards and nominations. To capitalize on this growing success, the artistic director of imaginary beasts made a decision to join the Arts Advocacy Organization Fractured Atlas. Their mission is to ‘empower artists, arts organizations, and other cultural sector stakeholders by eliminating practical barriers to artistic expression, so as to foster a more agile and resilient cultural ecosystem.’
 
To sign up for our mailing list, find out more about our company, or our current or past seasons, please visit www.imaginarybeasts.org
 
 Additionally, you can Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@imaginarybeast)