OH yes it is — oh no it isn't. For the first time in 26 years, Whitchurch Players and Dancers have been forced to pull the plug on their annual pantomime, writes Wendy Hanwell.
This week secretary Glyn John announced the group has had to postpone January's show 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.
The players had planned to stage the pantomime at the end of next month at Tavistock College instead of at their traditional venue — Whitchurch Parish Rooms.
'All in all, everything this year has been against us,' Mr John told the Times. 'The main reason for the cancellation was that we had a very small cast and were worried about the size of the school stage. We thought we might look lost. There were also concerns about the large hall and the possibility that we might not fill it. We did not want to put on a rubbish show and felt the pantomime might not be up to our usual standard.
'We desperately need new blood and support as we do want to go ahead with a production next year.'
The players were forced to look for a new venue following the closure, after last year's show, of the small hall next to Whitchurch Parish Rooms, used as a changing room.
'We would love to be back in our home base in Whitchurch — as a local group that is where the pantomime should be staged,' said Mr John. 'It is important to stress that this is not the end of Whitchurch Players and Dancers.'
There is to be an extraordinary meeting in January to which all current and past members will be invited.
'Anyone who is interested in keeping the tradition of local pantomime alive in the twenty first century will be welcome,' said Mr John.
The date of the meeting will be publicised nearer the date.