Panto time for for rep group
Aladdin will have the festive magic
It’s that time of year again... oh yes it is!
Rutherglen Rep are ready for their annual pantomime, which this year will be Aladdin.
The am dram group will be bringing the classic story to life at four different performances next week.
It is a particularly busy time for the Rep’s Andrew Cleary, who is taking on the title role and also co-wrote the show.
He said: “You can’t go wrong with the panto and rehearsals are always good fun because everyone is getting into the spirit of it all.
“It was about this time last year that I decided I wanted to try and write a panto, so me and Kenny (McCallum) started writing it in January.
“Kenny was really helpful and guided it along - it was quite funny writing it at first, because everyone knows all the things you get in a pantomime but once we got the basis of the story done we were fine, and it was just about getting the jokes right.
“It’s the standard story from Aladdin, along with a typical dame and a couple of stupid police officers who keep getting in the way.
“There’s a villain with various plans that get uncovered by Aladdin as the story goes on.”
The story is set in Old Peking, where the Twanky family – Aladdin, Wishee Washee and Widow Twankey are living a simple life running a laundrette.
Then a strange woman who goes by the name Abanazaress appears and offers them a chance to become rich beyond their wildest dreams.
The catch, however, is that Aladdin must go into a cave and retrieve a lamp for Abanazaress, and what seems like a simple task turns their lives upside down....
This is Andrew’s fourth year with the Rep, and he’s keen to encourage others to take part.
He added: “If there’s anyone who wants to join then we won’t turn them away because we’re always needing help, whether it’s front stage, backstage or whatever.
“For me personally, getting to be onstage the three months of hard work is a great feeling.
“The rehearsals are fun as well - you can play around with the script and have a bit of fun, and then on the night you can never prepare for what someone might shout out when it’s a pantomime.” The full cast for Aladdin: Abanazaress - Jane Blackwood Slave - Cath McCleery Wishee Washee - Angela Patrick Betty - Kenneth McCallum Widow Twanky - Eitan Grant PC Sweet - Tricia Troup PC Sour - Ann McCaig Aladdin - Andrew Cleary Jasmine - Claire Troup. Genie - Julia Girdwood The performances will be on Monday, December 5 at Stonelaw Church Hall at 7.15pm, on Wednesday, December 7 and Thursday December 8 at Harley’s Sky Bar at 7.30pm and on Saturday, December 10 at Kirkhill Halls at 2.30pm.
Tickets are priced at £ 7 (£ 6 concession) and can be purchased by telephoning 0141 646 0017, or online at the Rep website, www.rutherglenrep.org.uk/tickets