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Amateur dramatics group to restart village panto

Louis ReynoldsGreat Ouseburn
Louis Reynolds/BBC Lynsey Farmworth and Louise Farmer of the Whixley Players am dram group picture at Ouseburn Village HallLouis Reynolds/BBC
Lynsey Farmworth and Louise Farmer will direct the Ouseburn Village Hall production of Rapunzel

An amateur dramatics group is looking for volunteers to help resurrect a traditional pantomine in their North Yorkshire village.

The Whixley Players aim to put on the Christmas show staple at the nearby Great Ouseburn village hall for the first time in 30 years.

The group is planning to perform Rapunzel at the venue on 22 November.

Lynsey Farmworth, director of the group, said: "No matter how busy or challenging life gets, panto can make you laugh and smile, it's just amazing."

The village used to be home to the Ouseburn Follies, which put on a pantomime each year until interest declined in 1996.

David Burton, the chair of of the village hall management committee, said: "I will be proud we can bring something back.

"The community has grown over the last few years and it'll be nice to bring those people into the village."

Louis Reynolds/BBC A group of actors and directors stood in front of the stage at Great Ouseburn village hall in their first meeting to discuss putting on a pantomime. Louis Reynolds/BBC
People from Great Ouseburn are hoping to bring panto back to the village

An expression of interest was held last month and more than 20 people from the community turned out to find out more about being involved.

Steven Cameron, 35, who lives in Great Ouseburn, said: "It looks like so much fun to be involved in, when I heard it was in my village I thought why not let's give it a go."

Louis Reynolds/BBC Image showing Chloe Peacock, Steven Cameron and Charlie Aldridge stood in front of the stage at Great Ouseburn Village HallLouis Reynolds/BBC
Chloe Peacock, Steven Cameron and Charlie Aldridge are all hoping for parts in the production

Charlie Aldridge, 34, who is also from Great Ouseburn, was inspired to come down to the meeting after recently seeing a pantomime.

Aldridge said: "I used to love going to see panto, maybe I can be a good dame and cause some chaos on stage."

The final group are set to meet next month for their first read through.

Am-dram group hope the show will go on

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