Sell-out success for village panto’s recent production

Villagers in Seend packed out the community centre recently to enjoy the Seend Fawlty Players’ 45th annual panto, Pinocchio.

The show was a sell-out success, with the group reporting lots of laughs and plenty of audience participation.

A member of the Seend Fawlty Players said, “Stacey Vaux was an outstanding Pinocchio, very ably supported in the opening workshop scene by Pete Wallis as Gepetto, Paula Mansergh as Figaro the cat, and Anita Shea, who also directed, as Gepetto’s apprentice, with magical visitations from the Blue Fairy, Sarah Clover, two pixies, Faye Sandercock and Kerry Keen, and Jiminy Cricket, John Jameson Davis.

“Four rowdy schoolchildren who led Pinocchio astray were played with gusto by Jackie Hamblin, Dan Payne, Jan Field and Toby Wallis, closely watched by comical policemen Sam Garner and Sam Chard.

“Mel Collinge-Cubberley had the audience booing enthusiastically as Stromboli, the puppeteer and villain of the piece, her talking and singing life-sized puppets played by Pete Wallis, Emily Bradford-Scoble and Tessa Doe. More villainy came from foxy Mr Volpi, Thomas Butter, and feline Mr Gatto, Euan Bradford-Scoble. Chris Waylen knew how to work the audience as the owner of Pleasure Island, and two voluptuous mermaids, fond of double entendres and puns, were played by Len Murray and John Jameson-Davis. Deryn Stafford and Dave Field provided musical accompaniment.

“Anita Shea, Tessa Doe and Dan Payne wrote the script; Jackie Hamblin and her team created the scenery, and Colin Waldeck and Dave Field created or procured the props, with Dave also working backstage with Adam Yates. Anita Shea and the cast provided costumes, and Jackie Hamblin, Tess Conboy and Rebecca Thomas did the make-up. Jo Waldeck was in charge of box office, and Anne Ewing supervised the front of house. Lighting was by Paul Seemayer.”

From proceeds raised at the show, £850 will be donated to Julia’s House Hospice and £200 to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.