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This study addresses the postulate of non-conventionality of pantomime, inherent in pantomimic scenarios of language origin. Since lack of semiotic conventions does not preclude micro-conventions resulting from cultural differences, pantomimes should be easier to interpret when the actor and recipient share the same culture than between two different cultures. In the study, Italian and Polish amateur "actors" re-enacted transitive events from a matrix of cartoon-like drawings. Randomly selected clips were matched by Polish and Italian participants to the corresponding drawings. We found no difference in the number of correct guesses when the actors and matchers were from the same versus from different cultures. We discuss this result in the context of the core assumptions of pantomimic scenarios of language origin. • Pantomimic scenarios of language origins assume that pantomime is robustly iconic and free from communicative conventions. • Lack of conventions does not preclude micro-conventions, thus pantomime should be more successful within cultures. • This was tested in a study with Italian and Polish participants. • Communicative success of pantomimes did not differ between same-culture and different-culture conditions. • Italian pantomimes were better guessed by both Italian and Polish participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]