Milestone for popular panto group

A popular pantomime group which has entertained residents with classic fairytales of good versus evil is set to stage its 40th anniversary production.

Stourbridge Pantomime Company was first formed in late-1967 and will celebrate reaching the landmark anniversary with a performance of Aladdin on January 19, 20, 22 and 26.

All of the showings will be held at the town hall starting at 7.15pm with matinees on the Saturday and Thursday and two performances on January 20 starting at 1.15pm and 6.15pm.

Tickets are available from Roy Whitehouse on 01384 568208 or James Tromans on 01384 560653 and donations from the proceeds will be made to the Georgina Ward at Russells Hall Hospital. The group was formed when four friends met a house in Cathcart Road, Stourbridge, in 1967 with the aim of forming an amateur pantomime company.

John Clarkson, Michael Dowding, Arnold Bennett and his wife Gill were concerned professional pantomimes were becoming variety shows and felt true pantomime needed to be preserved with all its traditions.

Mr and Mrs Bennett loaned the fledgling company the £25 deposit needed to book the town hall for the first show, a sum of £25. After a successful appeal for members the first pantomime was held in January 1969, a production of Sleeping Beauty.

It proved to be a success and plans were made for a second pantomime the following year, this time Jack and the Beanstalk.

This saw the introduction of the group's traditional Thursday matinee, which at the time was dedicated to parties for severely handicapped youngsters.

Early leading ladies for the group were Janet Oakley, Diane Thornhill, Sue Morris and Paddy Jones. And the Dames were John Clarkson, Frank Simpson and Peter Mills.