The cast |
The pantomime went ahead after East Hendred residents Susie Turnbull, Lorraine Clayton and Liz Tunney met up with Kevin Martin and Sara Hildebrant who had previous directing and production experience. They all agreed to try to put on a panto and advertised in the surrounding villages for interested parties to come forward. The resulting group known as Springline (in recognition of the local springline villages) then went into rehearsal in late autumn to produce the first village pantomime to be performed in several years. Springline’s efforts were boosted by a loan from the East Hendred Parish Council and sponsorship from Oxford-based chartered accountants
Hunter Marshall.
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Aladdin and Lotusblossom
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Genie
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Tickets went on sale on the 1st December 2007 within a few days, the penultimate and last nights were sold out. Aladdin played to large audiences on the first and second nights too. In addition to rehearsing, members of the cast and a long list of supporting crew set about building sets and gathering props and costumes. Impressively, those involved ranged in age from seven to over eighty years old. Over 54 villagers joined in the fun, 27 of which formed the cast. A whole range of hidden talent was discovered amongst a very willing group who came from a good spread of the villages.
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Handmaidens
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Help was also at hand from those not directly involved with the production. Ken Taylor, Snells Hall committee treasurer, did a stirling job of fitting in the group’s needs at a difficult time of year, particularly when there were no resident caretakers looking after the hall. Some regular users of Snells Hall also gave up one or two of their sessions during a busy winter schedule so that all necessary rehearsals could go ahead.
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Emperor
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Fang
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Local businesses and organisations also pitched in to support the pantomime. St Amand’s school hall was used as a rehearsal space in addition to Snells Hall. Hendred Stores, Q Gardens and Ardington Stores kindly agreed to sell tickets. Oxford Spires scaffolding rigged poles for lighting and Sarah Sheehan loaned her clavinova for rehearsals. The Eyston Arms provided their piano for the main event. Thanks to the success of the show, Springline is hoping to upgrade the stage curtain system at Snells Hall and has already made a donation to St Amand’s School whose facilities were of great use.
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Widow Twanky and Brigands |
Brigands |
Finale |
Encouraged by the excellent reception to Aladdin, Springline is discussing plans for the next production.
If you missed out this time, join in the next panto, work on which will start this autumn! |
