The term "dumb show" was first used in 16th century England to describe stage performances that did not have any spoken dialogue. These shows were often used as a form of entertainment between acts of a play or masque. Dumb shows could also be used to tell a story or to convey a message, and they were often used in religious plays and morality plays.
Over time, the term "dumb show" has come to be used more generally to refer to any performance that is primarily based on mime or pantomime, regardless of whether or not there is any spoken dialogue. Dumb shows can be found in a variety of contexts, including theater, dance, and film.