11 Jan Oh yes they did! Developer supports village panto cast
A drama group has thanked housebuilder Persimmon Homes Essex for sponsoring their annual panto.
The Silver End Amateur Drama Group have been staging a pantomime at the village hall for more than 50 years, bringing laughter and joy to villagers and giving aspiring thespians a taste of life on stage.
The group successfully applied for a Community Champions grant from Persimmon Homes Essex to help bring their panto to life, and were given a £1,000 donation to support their production of Cinderella, which opens on January 18.
Martin Barlow, Director of Cinderella, said: “Our pantomime has become a village tradition now, so many people are involved. We have around 40 people directly involved either as cast or backstage crew, and we have an audience of 200 at each of our four performances.
“We would like to thank Persimmon for this generous donation, this money helps cover some of the costs of lighting, scenery and costumes, and means we can keep ticket prices affordable for the families who like to come and see us year after year.”
Persimmon Essex Managing Director, Richard Hush, said: “The pantomime is something of an institution in Silver End and solidifies that sense of community and belonging.
“We are delighted to be able to support the cast and crew and ensure this legacy can continue to be enjoyed by village residents.”
Persimmon Homes is currently building at The Maples in nearby Cressing, creating 250 new homes to meet local need. The show home in Long Green is due to open this Saturday, January 13, offering for sale a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes.
