AN AMATEUR dramatics group will reach a very special anniversary when they perform their pantomime this weekend. The Barkway Players have been putting on a panto for the last 17 years, each with three performances. This means that the second performance

AN AMATEUR dramatics group will reach a very special anniversary when they perform their pantomime this weekend.

The Barkway Players have been putting on a panto for the last 17 years, each with three performances.

This means that the second performance, due to take place at 2pm on Saturday, will be their 50th show.

Founder member of the players Edwin Kilby, director of this year's pantomime, said the group was "amazed and delighted" to reach this landmark.

"Few of us would have thought when we started in 1992 that we'd still be performing after all this time," he said.

"But we have been amazed at the demand for tickets this year - we are on course for a sell-out."

This year's production is The Snow Queen, and as usual will deliver a fresh slant on a classic tale.

The script has been written by the players themselves. It features a somewhat delayed Father Christmas, a double-glazing salesman, and many other strange characters, while The Crow will also be putting in an appearance.

Producer Ann-Marie Kirkham said: "We've been having great fun rehearsing The Snow Queen. Our version is genuinely original, taking elements of the Hans Christian Andersen tale and putting them into unexpected new guises.

"We'll all be a bit nervous on the day, but we think it's going to be great!"

Performances will be tomorrow (Friday)at 8pm, and on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm.

Only a few tickets remain, so if you want to snap one up ring 01763 84834.