During what would have been panto week for Bridport Pantomime Players, members have been left with a big hole in their lives.

The group would have been performing Bridport Pantomime Players' 56th show, Ali Baba, but due to the current situation, that has been postponed until February 2022.

So, to mark the occasion, the Players are doing a week of celebrations on the group's Facebook page.

Alice Tuck, a member of Bridport Pantomime Players, said: "We have some new content that will be posted over the week but we have also been back through the archives to find some bits that our cast and audience members have highlighted as their favourites.

"It is a really strange time for us, there would have been months of preparation by the cast and crew, which we have obviously missed as it's always a lot of fun.

"The show week itself has crept up on many of us and we have all realised what a large hole it has left us with, not performing or being involved in some way this year."

It is normally all hands-on deck for members of Bridport Pantomime Players with lots to do in the lead-up to the show week.

Alice added: "Our week starts off with as many of the cast and crew helping to load all of our clothes, set and props in on the Friday evening - I always think of us as a bit like the circus, with everyone lending a hand in any way they can to put together a fantastic show.

"Everything is then set up during the Saturday and Sunday morning ready for the dancing school rehearsals on the Sunday afternoon. The children's chance to experience the stage and practice the dances they have been working on behind the scenes for many weeks.

"The buzz backstage is amazing - from the tiny tots to those who have danced for many years and are looking to join the Players themselves. Then the Players come in and mark through their routines before tech and dress runs on the Monday and Tuesday evenings ahead of opening night on the Wednesday.

"It's a very full-on week but we all absolutely love it, but as you can imagine we are really missing all of that this year.

"We welcome so many local groups within our amazing audiences across the performances from local care homes, other theatre groups, schools, as well as Cubs, Scouts and Brownies and every single audience member will be greatly missed.

"Hopefully this is a way of saying thank you for everyone's continued support through these really tough times and we look forward to coming back with a bang next February with Ali Baba."

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