The Algarveans Experimental Theatre Group was founded in September 1991 when, after an advertisement in the local newspaper, some 20 interested people gathered at Jerry Lane’s house. The outcome was a theatre group being formed and the decision taken to put on the pantomime ‘Puss in Boots’ in the following January. The rest is, as you say, history!
So, 23 years later, the group is about to stage its 20th pantomime, ‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’.
“It is really great to have some of our founding members still actively involved with the drama group – people like Lloyd and Trish Delderfield, Jenny Grainer and Siân Hughes Roberts have taken very active roles in virtually all our pantomimes over the years,” said current Algarveans’ chairperson Melanie Winstanley.
Trevor Herrington, who is directing his second pantomime for the group after the successful ‘Robinson Crusoe’ at Lagos Cultural Centre last year, is cramming this year’s show with lots of laughter, songs and audience participation, as you would expect from your traditional pantomime.
The group has only missed three years since that first show back in 1992, 2004 when there was no theatre available to perform in, 2009 when they put on a variety show instead and 2011 when they performed ‘Honk! The Musical’ at Easter.
Although with a totally different script, the group had performed ‘Babes in the Wood’ previously in 1997 and Joanna Boe Williams from that original show is treading the boards again as The Fairy in this show.
“Although I’m a very active member of the group, it has been years since I did panto, but I’m loving it and I think the audiences will too,” Boe said.
The show will take place at the Lagoa Auditorium from March 12 to 14 at 8pm. Tickets are on sale at €10 for adults and €5 for children.
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Photo: Boe Williams (French Fairy) rehearsing. The fairy receives calls from a well-known public figure in France throughout the performance …
