Pop-up pantomime at Shropshire hospital
Christmas is a particularly difficult time of year for young people to be in hospital, but those in one of Shropshire's children's ward are in for a treat tomorrow.
A pop-up pantomime will be held on Alice Ward at the Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital courtesy of the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Starlight is a national charity that grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes for seriously and terminally-ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.
The visit to Oswestry is part of an eight-week tour which will see the Starlight Christmas Pantomime visiting children's wards throughout the country.
Suzanne Marsden, ward manager on Alice Ward, said: "We know that play can significantly help to improve a child's hospital experience and we are very grateful to Starlight's Christmas Pantomime for helping bring some festive fun to the ward.
For more information on festive pantomime's in the region click here
"It really does allow our young patients to forget about their illness for a short while and experience the magic of Christmas that every child deserves."
This year's pantomime is Aladdin and the young patients will get to laugh, cheer and sing-along as the four actors perform the classic children's story.
Sue Wildman, head of children's services at Starlight Children's Foundation, said: "Starlight aims to distract children from the pain and anxiety that they feel as a result of their illness.
"Starlight's Christmas Pantomime is a fabulous way of spreading some festive cheer to poorly children and their families spending time in hospitals and hospices over the Christmas period. We hope that this will be just what the doctor ordered!"
