War play fills in for pantomome (From Gazette Series)

War play fills in for pantomome

A PANTOMIME will be missing from Wotton-under-Edge after Christmas this year, but Wotton Dramatic Society is channelling its energy into a lavish production of Oh What a Lovely War.

The show was originally staged by drama pioneer Joan Littlewood with a community company at the Theatre Royal in Stratford, East London - it contains well-known songs from the era of the First World War, and lively choreography.

Wotton Dramatic Society's production will be directed by Jane Wallace. Open auditions have been held and were attended by a large number of potential performers.

The cast of the show now includes two new lead actors and several other new faces to the society.

Society chairman Paul Barber said: "We are enthusiastic about opening up the society to the wider community, and this big production seemed an ideal opportunity to do so.

"We are also keen to note the extra significance of Remembrance Sunday this year, and hope to join in with others in Wotton-under-Edge who are observing the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War."

Wotton Dramatic Society's pantomimes involve a lot of work, from the writing and directing to staging and rehearsing - none of the members were available this year to take on responsibility for all this, so it was decided to combine resources for this major production in November.

Oh What a Lovely War will be presented in Wotton Town Hall, with a very important element of elaborate music, singing and dancing and some lightheartedness. A matinee performance will be included in the run.

Mr Barber added: "Of course, we are disappointed not to be able to produce a pantomime this year, but we are pleased its absence will be noticed and hope people will realise they can't take it for granted - and our traditional pantomime will be back next year."