NOT sleepless in Seattle but shoeless in Suffolk, that is the plight of a Brantham pantomime fairy.With the production of The Elves and the Shoemaker opening tonight, time is running out for BATS, Brantham Amateur Theatrical Society, to find a pair of size seven silver sandals for Margaret Humphrey, the actress playing Fairy Snow.
By Tina Heath
NOT sleepless in Seattle but shoeless in Suffolk, that is the plight of a Brantham pantomime fairy.
With the production of The Elves and the Shoemaker opening tonight, time is running out for BATS, Brantham Amateur Theatrical Society, to find a pair of size seven silver sandals for Margaret Humphrey, the actress playing Fairy Snow.
Feeling in dire need of the sandals to complete her costume an eleventh hour appeal has been launched.
BATS latest production opening comes as the village theatre group is celebrating after they scooped yet another prestigious national award.
The company has just been notified that last year's pantomime, Snow White and the Eight Dwarves, > won the National Operatic Dramatic Association (NODA) award for best production in the region.
Chairman Keith Nixon, who writes and produces shows with Mark Wilson said that the award, which they win for the second time following the success of The King, The Kipper and the Magic Bush in 1999, was a tremendous boost for the company.
"Anyone who has seen our productions will know we are in a total different league to your usual village panto. We have a very professional standard and obviously NODA have realised this."
He added that BATS fall into the North Essex regional category, which covers an area from Chelmsford to Haverhill and Clacton. Across the border in Suffolk big names such as the Co-op Juniors and the Ipswich Operatic and Dramatic Society have won the award in the past.
N The Elves and the Shoemaker will be performed at Brantham Village Hall from tonight until Saturday at 7.30pm plus a matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday.
Tickets are on sale from Stutton's Newsagents, Acacia Court, Brantham at £5 or £4.50 concessions.
N And if you can help with the size sevens please call wardrobe mistress Joanne Coombs on 01206 395570.
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