Ellesmere actors go back to the beginning for pantomime

A hundred years ago pantomime season came to Ellesmere in earnest when an amateur dramatics group was formed. Fast forward to the year 2011 and Ellesmere Amateur Dramatics Society is preparing to raise the curtain on a new production of that first show from 1911 - Mother Goose.

Members of the society have been busy putting the finishing touches to the extravaganza which will be performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Ellesmere Town Hall.

Mike Ashley, writer and producer, said: "The very first production performed by the society in 1911 was Mother Goose and so we felt it was only fitting that this should be the 2011 show as well.

"A fascinating link with the present is that the original 1911 orchestra included the cornet player W W Tims, grandfather of our present drummer, John Tims.

"In these early days, rehearsals took place at Dr Drawbridge's house at 5 Talbot Street but later transferred to the Red Lion Assembly Rooms."

He added that in 100 years the society has seldom failed to hold a pantomime except for the war years and brief spells in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mother Goose will be on at 7.30pm on Friday, 2pm and 7pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday.

For tickets priced £6 or £4 go to Maxwell's in Trimpley Street, Ellesmere.