A NATIONAL treasure and a famous Rugbeian have given their blessing to a local pantomime group which turns 30 this year.
The Dunchurch Pantomaniacs will start their anniversary year with a bang tomorrow (Friday January 18) when Billy the Kid – this year’s panto – opens for an eight-performance run.
And members were delighted to receive congratulatory messages from two screen stars to mark the milestone.
Absolutely Fabulous and The Avengers star Joanna Lumley wrote: “Be fab forever! Break many legs and cheers sweeties. Love and admiration, Joanna Lumley.”
And Rugby’s own Arthur Bostrom, who found fame as the vowel-mangling Officer Crabtree in BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo, said: “Hello everyone in the 2019 production of Billy the Kid – or, as my character in ‘Allo ‘Allo would say, good moaning! May I wish you the bust of British lick for the production.”
The group has raised over £80,000 for local good causes over the last 30 years, which has funded a disability scooter, an electric wheelchair, a stair lift, two hospital type beds for home use by the disabled, equipment for hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, and more besides.
Billy the Kid opens at Dunchurch Village Hall on Friday (January 18) and performances continue until Saturday January 26, including evening and matinee shows and a gala night performance on Wednesday (January 23).
Tickets are available from Wanda Fashions in Dunchurch or Wild and Free in Bank Street, priced at £7, £6 for concessions and £4 for children, or £15 for the gala night (meal included).