THE show will go on – but only if a goose can be found for the audience to take a gander at!Just a week ago it looked as though the curtain had come down on the Deben Players annual pantomime before it had even begun.

THE show will go on – but only if a goose can be found for the audience to take a gander at!

Just a week ago it looked as though the curtain had come down on the Deben Players annual pantomime before it had even begun.

The amateur dramatics group has presented a panto in Woodbridge for the last 38 years but a severe shortage of actors threatened to put an end to the tradition.

A series of emergency auditions have found actors to tread the boards in a production of Mother Goose and the Golden Eggs – now all that remains is someone willing to play Priscilla the goose.

Jackie Wilks, the show's director, said: "It really is vital that we find someone to do this. If we can't find a goose we can't go on rehearsing much longer.

"Mother Goose without a goose would be a bit of a sorry show.

"We have a beautiful 6ft tall costume already prepared and we simply cannot do the show if we don't have anyone to lay the golden eggs."

The group is having a brand new set worth £40,000, being made to suit its script and already has dates fixed at the theatre.

Last week they were forced to hold emergency auditions to fill their lead roles as many of the group's members have duck-ed out of this year's show because of other commitments.

Prospective stars were put through their paces at auditions in Melton's parish rooms earlier this week and suitable candidates have now been found - for all the roles except the goose.

If the show goes ahead more than 80 people will be involved in the production. It will take place at the Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge, from December 27 to January 3.

Anyone interested in playing Priscilla should contact Mrs Wilks on 01394 460518 or Steve Parks on 01394 676691.