This poster advertises The Grand Old Dame of York, the 40th pantomime written and performed by Berwick Kaler at York Theatre Royal, opening on 13th December 2018 and closing on the 2nd February 2019. Berwick had decided that this would be the pantomime after which he would retire, hence the title The Grand Old Dame of York, a play on the title of the children's song The Grand Old Duke of York.

Berwick Kaler's annual pantomimes were hugely popular in York where he became a well-known local celebrity and where people queued all night outside the theatre to buy tickets. Generations of children knew Berwick as the Dame. He called his audiences: 'Me babbie, me bairns' and threw chocolate biscuits called Wagon Wheels out to them, handing bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale to fortunate recipients in the stalls.

During Berwick's last performances at York in late January and early February 2019 he read messages from the audience thanking him for all the fun and joy which his pantomimes had provided for audience members over the years.