TICKETS have already sold out for one of the performances of a village rock and roll panto – and others are selling like hot cakes.Trimley Saints Players' performance is eagerly awaited in the village each January and the talented group never fails to delight with their own special brand of panto.

By Richard Cornwell

TICKETS have already sold out for one of the performances of a village rock and roll panto - and others are selling like hot cakes.

Trimley Saints Players' performance is eagerly awaited in the village each January and the talented group never fails to delight with their own special brand of panto.

This year the group is presenting a rock and roll version of Babes in the Wood and it promises to be great fun.

The Saints have built a fine reputation over the past few years both through their pantos but also by staging a variety of other shows. Last year they presented the macabre musical The Little Shop of Horrors and the equally evil Jack the Ripper, for which they won an ESTAA (East Suffolk Theatre Amateur Award).

Over the last few years the company's pantos have included Beauty and the Beast, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Alice in Pantoland, and Robinson Crusoe.

This time it is Babes in the Wood and the show opens at the Memorial Hall, in Trimley tomorrow night and runs until Saturday when there will also be a matinee.

Friday night's show is already sold out and people wanting to go the other performances are advised to make sure they book as soon as possible.

Angela Billing and John Bellamy have brought the traditional Babes into the Wood story into the fifties and incorporated more than 30 songs from this rock 'n' roll era, to which the audience are welcome to sing along.

The show promises to be a colour and comical romp, with plenty of excitement, fun, laughs, and dance, and lots of traditional audience participation, as well as the usual village jokes that probably only Trimley folk would understand.

The babes are played by Danielle Perkins and Fraiya Leaming and are the children of Queen Patsy (think Ab Fab) played by Angela Billing and King Elvis played by Richard Gifford.

The plot is helped along by Marion (Claire Perkins) and Nurse Saline Drip (Jan Green). Meanwhile Robin Hood is a street-wise Fonz-type character played by Tony Rodwell who is on hand to stop Dudley Knight's evil Count from harming the babes.

A lot of the comedy comes courtesy of two would-be villains brought to life by Richard Smith and Robert Hutchings while good and evil are provided by Diana Seaman and Daphne Armstrong respectively.

Proceeds from Babes In The Wood will go to the local Multiple Sclerosis support group and the Memorial Hall.

n Babes In The Wood is at the Memorial Hall, High Road, Trimley St Martin from tomorrow until Saturday with performances at 7.30pm daily and a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are available by calling Julie on 01394 671119.

Weblink: www.trimleysaintsplayers.co.uk