Players and their panto

The Players do panto every other year.

This year they turn their attention to Dick Whittington, with its cast of well-known characters - Dick himself, plus Tommy his cat, the villainous King Rat and his nemesis Fairy Bowbells.

There is love, laughter, a terrible frame-up during a theft, slave traders, dancing girls and a rat problem the size of Morocco.

Players spokeswoman Lynne Gardner confirmed the show, written by Christopher Loveless, will be performed on December 1, 2 and 3 at 7,30pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets are available on 01798 831468.

“It’s a traditional panto, the traditional story,” Lynne said: “We have got two lovely young leads for Alice and Dick, and we have got new members for the chorus, which is good fun. We have got lots of popular songs to sing along to, including Honey, Honey and The Lambeth Walk.

“And there will be lots of audience participation. The costumes will be very colourful and traditional, and there will be lots of dancing. It’s going to be up-beat, feel-good and lots of fun.”

The theatre group is based at Bury Village Hall and has been slapping on the greasepaint in all sorts of productions since 1978, including winning several awards.

With just a break for Christmas, they will be back in action early in January, thinking ahead to their next production, which will be Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime.

Auditions for the show will be in Bury Village Hall on January 4 at 7.30pm. The production itself will be in the first week of May next year.