A CRICCIETH youth theatre group are set to debut their innovative pantomime show this Saturday (April 23).
The Criccieth Starlight Players dedicated junior group, the SPYDRS (Starlight Players Youth Drama Society), will be debuting their show “Cinderella in Blunderland”.
The youth group, first founded 20 years ago and composed of children aged 6-16, have created a pantomime inspired by famous stories, incorporating characters from a host of well-known pantomimes.
The pantomime was originally set to debut in 2020, but was delayed due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Having already performed a variety show and a recreation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits, the youngsters wanted to leave their own mark on the theatre world.
Producer Kate Dunn said: “They decided that they wanted to devise their own show.
“In their minds, they pinched all their favourite characters from various pantomimes and mashed them up into Cinderella in Blunderland.
“You’ve got characters from Aladdin, characters from Cinderella, from Alice in Wonderland, from Snow White.”
Marking their return at the Memorial Hall in Criccieth under the direction of adult group members Ed Farrow and Sue Cooper, the play promises to be a unique spectacle and signals a slight return to normality.
Ms Dunn added: “We’re really excited that after over two year something is happening in the group again.”
Furthermore, Memorial Hall is set to celebrate its centenary this year, and hall patron, ex-Strictly Come Dancing star and TV astrologer Russell Grant has given his support to the show.
A friend of Mr Grant’s, Ed Penney, took on the role of scriptwriter, having combined for show’s with the TV star in North Wales for some years.
“Our children came up with the characters and the story,” said Ms Dunn, “and then Ed took their ideas and actually wrote the script.”
Ed Penney tragically passed away in 2020, so due to the delay was never able to watch the performance he had helped create with the children.
The show will be performed in his memory, and will include a tribute to him from Mr Grant.
The play will see two performances this Saturday, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, with tickets costing £6 for adults and £4 for children.
Tickets are available here (no booking fee) or via telephone on 0333 666 33566 (£1.80 fee applies).
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