Villagers ready for Goldilocks and the Three Bears production

The Wistanstow Players, a 30-member group based in the village near Craven Arms, is putting on a three-night run of the show that ends tomorrow.

But amateur dramatics is perhaps the wrong term as the players have nearly four decades' experience. Members Johnathan and Heather Rogers, both 70, said they had been involved every year for 38 years.

Johnathan, a financial consultant, said in their working life Heather was his assistant, but for the stage they swapped roles.

"She is the producer, I am assistant producer," he said. "Though on the night she acts as prompt and I will be helping our grandson with the music and sound effects."

He said it was a family affair with grandsons Leo Oduor, 14, overseeing the sound and Zeph Oduor, 12, playing a bee.

But cast members are not just from village – they come from as far as Shrewsbury to take part.

He said: "We started rehearsing in September but it takes all year to get the production to that stage.

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"We had to re-write the script to include three new characters as there weren't enough parts for the members. They are three girls called Bing Bang and Bong, who do a dance to the Sophia Loren song."

He said it was not quite the usual telling of the Goldilocks story with it featuring a queen bee who wants to take over the world with the help of her 'hypno-honey'.

This pantomime will be staged tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm at Wistanstow Village Hall.

Tickets are £5 for adults, children £3, with a £3 concession price for senior citizens tonight only.

Tickets are available from The Smithy Shop in Wistanstow, Cyril Bason in Craven Arms, Mr. Bun, The Baker in Church Stretton, or on the door.