The Panto Group was formed in the autumn of 1996. Judith Rodgers called a meeting of anyone interested one stormy rain-lashed night. Despite a power cut, the enthusiasm of the twenty or so people who turned up was enough to get started.
We kicked off with Humpty Dumpty. Perhaps the most memorable image for me was Tom Fairbrother who was 13/14(?) wearing an amazing egg shell dressed in red and blue striped shorts and bright turquoise tights. John Earl played the larger than life Dame with enormous humour and dramatic effect.
With huge enthusiasm that derived from the successful performances of Humpty and the evident delight of the audiences, we launched into an Old Time Music Hall the next autumn. We asked George Robinson to compere the show...he was a natural. Later, when John bowed out of his Dame role, George stepped seamlessly in and is now the focal point of many of our pantos.