The History Of Lilleshall Pantomine
Sleeping Beauty - 2001
With just enough cast members still around and a few new members joining, everyone heaved a sigh of relief, as Lilleshall Pantomime survived another year but these had been difficult times. With no-one in the company having written a new script, it was necessary to use one from the past again but everyone agreed that this new trend of re-using old scripts should end after this one and we should look to trying to find new scripts for the future.
A few re-writes, a few new jokes and modification of the special effects soon meant that the script was ready and casting could begin. With such a traditional Pantomime as Sleeping Beauty, the Group cast the roles in a traditional fashion, with a principal boy played by Jane, daughter of Margaret Hullin, a stalwart of the group, both in performance and in costuming.
This was Jane's first ever performance on stage but nervousness was overcome by opening night, as she played the prince with confidence and charm. The role of Sleeping Beauty was played this year by Hayley Robinson. Hayley had been with the Group since she was a small child and had danced her way across the stage as various animals, fairies and flowers as well as being the rather pretty little fairy doll in Gepetto's workshop in Pinnochio. It was felt that it was time for this enthusiastic and committed member of the Group to take on a more leading role. She carried off the role of the beautiful princess Aurora with gentleness and calm. We know there was a proud Mum in the audience this year!
It looked like, and was hoped that, a better future for Lilleshall Pantomime might be starting again as the trend for whole families to become involved seemed to be happening again. Bill Workman who had joined last year found himself working with his two daughters, Rhiann and Sian. Andrew Shaw stayed with us and was working along side his son Daryl (who had been in the company since he was at primary school) and his daughter Samantha. His wife and other daughter would join the company also, later.
Stage Manager was now taken over by Geoff Lott, who worked tirelessly to redesign the staging and create larger working props. Evelyn Wales, carried on as Producer and Graham Gibson agreed to direct. Celia Fox, this year was only going to concentrate on Scenery and helping backstage but due to Graham, unfortunately becoming quite poorly as rehearsals progressed, she was asked to step in and help support Graham and take over directing the remaining rehearsals. The Show was developing well when disaster stuck...as the whole rural area in which the village of Lilleshall was placed became, in common with many other areas, a victim of the 'Foot and Mouth' farming tragedy! It was touch and go for a while, whether the Show should be cancelled as many cast and even more of our audience were struggling with the restrictions and worries of the situation. After a further crisis meeting, when some members were beginning to think that this Show was jinxed, it was decided to open as planned and leave it up to our audience whether they felt it 'safe' to venture out from restricted areas and support us. With everything completed and happily good news received that Graham was getting better, the Show opened and once again, despite whatever problems had arisen, the Group had overcome them and the audiences that attended every nights performances were appreciative of another of Lilleshall Pantomime Group's great Shows!