A production of ‘Babes in the Wood’ put on by the Whitley Bay Pantomime Society taking place at the Playhouse Whitley Bay on Saturday 9th January 1988. The production stars Victoria Banks and ‘Robin’, Andrea Collins as ‘Marion’ with Peter Boden as the ‘Sherriff of Nottingham’, Kevyn Gill as ‘Nurse Pepsi’ and Rowland Maughan and Len Hayden as the ‘Robbers’. A darkened auditorium with music coming from the orchestra pit, a spotlight on the performing pianist. Title: Babes in the Wood...

A production of ‘Babes in the Wood’ put on by the Whitley Bay Pantomime Society taking place at the Playhouse Whitley Bay on Saturday 9th January 1988. The production stars Victoria Banks and ‘Robin’, Andrea Collins as ‘Marion’ with Peter Boden as the ‘Sherriff of Nottingham’, Kevyn Gill as ‘Nurse Pepsi’ and Rowland Maughan and Len Hayden as the ‘Robbers’. A darkened auditorium with music coming from the orchestra pit, a spotlight on the performing pianist. Title: Babes in the Wood Credit: Filmed by J. Brunton 9.1.88 The curtain rises for the first of several song and dance routines. ‘Nurse Pepsi’ comes onto the stage from the aisle. The ‘Robbers’ arrive via a wicker basket which is lowered onto the stage. They lead the audience in singing ‘We All Stand Together’. Rowland wonders out into the audience to make sure they are singing along with him. The production continues. During the second half Rowland Maughan and Len Hayden perform on stage with the ‘Babes’ ‘Away in a Manger’ portrayed by Hazel Glynn and Louise Brooks. Six men from the cast appear on stage as Girl Guides for a comedy sketch and song, Kevyn Gill returns to the stage still dressed as a Girl Guide to acknowledges some of those in the audience and to pass on best wishes messages from family and friends. The audience applaud a couple celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary, a spotlight falls on them as they stand up and wave. The production ends and Rowland Maughan and Len Hayden return to invite a birthday boy and girl onto the stage. Members of the chorus also come out onto the stage, two carrying a large placard on which is written the words to the nursery rhyme ‘I’m a Tree’. Rowlands heads into the audience to make sure they are singing along; he then leads a group of children back onto the stage where they are asked by him and Len what they got for Christmas. As bags of sweets are handed out to the children, Rowland thanks the musicians in the orchestra. The children leave the stage as the chorus perform the dance moves for the nursery rhyme before leaving along with Rowland and Len. The curtain is raised once more for a final dance number after which the full cast come out to take a bow to the audience and to sing another song. Everyone waves as the curtain is lowered and raised a few times. Rowland Maughan comes forward to thanks some of the cast and those behind the scenes, bouquets are presented. Ernie Scorer, one of the founders of the society, comes onto the stage to speak to the audience about tonight’s performance. The cast sing a final song, the audience clapping along. As the curtain falls slowly for the final time the cast sings the National Anthem. End title: The End