BRADFORD Players are preparing to perform their most ambitious pantomime to date, with Peter Pan ‘flying’ into Bradford-on-Tone during the February school half-term.

The story stays very much in line with J M Barrie’s original but, being a pantomime, a few additional characters are thrown in, such as a Dame. However, all the much-loved characters remain.

Last year was Bradford Players’ first year back in panto territory after a four-year hiatus due to a lack of members.

They surged back with a near sell-out week for Pinocchio and scooped four Somerset Fellowship of Drama (SFD) Cinderella Awards, plus two further nominations, for on-stage and off-stage categories. This was no minor triumph for such a small group competing against the bigger amateur groups in the area.

Two of these awards went to Cathy Vicarage, 16, this year’s Peter Pan, for her portrayal of Jiminy Cricket last year. The prestigious one was the Bradford Trophy – the Best Performance by Someone 16 Years or Younger. Ironically, the group contributed this award about 20 years ago but it has never been ‘home’ since.

Regular panto-goers may remember Cathy as Wellington Panto Group’s King of Hearts in Alice of Wonderland. Back then she was only 13 but picked up another award as well as being a runner-up for the Bradford Trophy.

Aside from panto, she has another award from SFD in its competition for straight plays – the Phoebe Rees Awards. She won Best Cameo for her role as Tailor in Taunton Thespians’ The Taming of the Shrew, and she has also recently received a nomination in SFD’s David Beach Awards – category for musicals – for her role as Liat in Wellington Operatic Group’s South Pacific.

But she is not alone in her successes. Last year’s Pinocchio, Andrew Power, also Wellington-based and a Cinderella Award winner, is again in Bradford’s cast, as is accomplished actress Alison Jenkinson, a Rose Bowl Award winner for her role as Beverley in @2K’s Abigail’s Party.

Bradford is extremely lucky to attract such accomplished actors and actresses but maintains its inclusive nature so complete novices get the chance to share the stage and learn from the more experienced.

Peter Pan is at Bradford-on-Tone village hall, next to the church, from from Wednesday to Saturday, February 17-20. Performances are at 7.30pm with matinees at 2.30pm on the Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available on 07581 880807 or e-mail [email protected] Last year four out of six performances sold out and the other two were close.