Infirmary players take to the stage for 30th annual panto

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The Dick Whittington and his Cat pantomime cast

The Rochdale Infirmary Players took to the stage this evening (Thursday 2 February 2011) for the opening night of their annual pantomime – a show which marks their 30th anniversary.

The group made up of Infirmary staff, friends and family performed Dick Whittington and his Cat, at Falinge Park High School, to raise money for the hospital.

Each year the cast choose where they would like to see the money raised donated. This year the proceeds will be going to both the Stroke Rehabilitation Services, to provide an electric wheelchair for the use of stroke patients rehabilitating after hospitalisation, and also to the team at Children’s Community Services who will use the money to go towards helping the children to stay at home rather than having to go into hospital for their treatment.

Show co-ordinator Ann Rhodes, said: “Thirty years, what a lovely milestone!”

Ms Rhodes explained that the reason the players group started 30 years ago was because there was a 14-year-old boy in the Infirmary with an un-united fracture and his mother found a piece of equipment for him which was expensive.

“She was selling raffle tickets and football cards and then Dr J.D Lewis had the idea of putting on a show, something he had done at his previous hospital, it started off as one night and then it got bigger, and the rest they say is history.

“During that time we must have raised thousands and thousands of pounds.”

The cast have been rehearsing since October and Ms Rhodes said thanks must go to the Rochdale Catholic Club who have provided them with rehearsal space and the Falinge Park High School who have accommodated them to put on the show.

The group have held murder mystery fundraising evenings throughout the year to enable them to put the show on.

The stage scenery was provided courtesy of Prosceneium based in Littleborough.

The pantomime is also on tomorrow (Friday 4 February) and Saturday 5 February with shows starting at 7.30pm.