Preview: Ebor Players present King Arthur, A Pantomime Adventure In Camelot, Bishopthorpe Village Hall, December 11 to 15

3:40pm Friday 7th December 2007

BEST friends Bobbie Parrish Moreton and Georgina Sykes take their friendship on to the stage when they play principal boy and girl in the Ebor Players' panto, King Arthur, A Pantomime Adventure In Camelot.

Bobbie, 14, and Georgina, 15, are pupils at Tadcaster Grammar School and are no strangers to performing.

Both girls are studying GCSE drama and were introduced to the Ebor Players a number of years ago by their mothers, who are members of the group.

In July, Bobbie and Georgina took part in the chorus of Northern Musical Theatre Company Youth Section's Les Misérables Schools Edition at the Grand Opera House, York.

On that occasion, Georgina claimed bragging rights over her friend Bobbie by saying, "I had a line to say."

Now they are looking forward to having plenty of lines in King Arthur.

"We had small roles of a couple of fairies in last year's panto, but this is the first time as principals, " says Bobbie, who will play the dashing and brave Sir Lancelot at Bishopthorpe Village Hall, Bishopthorpe, York, from Tuesday to Saturday.

"We're really looking forward to the buzz and excitement of a live performance, together with the songs and dances, " says Georgina, whose role will be Lady Olivia, Sir Lancelot's love interest.

Both girls will be auditioning for Fame at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre next Easter and for the Northern Musical Theatre Company production of The Pirates Of Penzance next summer.

The Ebor Players were formed in Bishopthorpe in 1994 with the express intention of providing the village with its own pantomime, and King Arthur will be the group's 14th panto.

"Since 2003, we've alternated between a traditional pantomime and something slightly more unconventional, such as Dracula, The Pantomime and Panto At The OK Corral, hence our offering this year of King Arthur, " says producer Tim Bruce, who is joined in the production team by his co-musical director Ben Smith, choreographer Chris Higgins and set backcloths designer Stephen Patrick.

Written by Paul Reakes, the Ebor pantomime tells the tale of the ageing King Arthur (played by Andrew Dunn), who now prefers a good chuckle to a battle.

Together with his Queen, Guinevere (David Rose, yes a man, so the Queen must have seen better days), he rules Camelot until challenged by Arthur's evil cousin Morgana (Philippa Parrish) and her wicked son Mordred (Tom Davis).

Throw in a couple of dragons (Saskia Dunn's Smoulder and Jo Curran's Large Dragon), Merlin (John Houseman) and a jousting competition and there is the basis for a cracking good pantomime, which also will feature Andy Pearce as Squirt, Tracey Patrick as Sally Simple and children from the village.

Tim Bruce does not believe in standing still.

"Last year's production of Sleeping Beauty was our best ever but we're looking to improve on that and King Arthur has all the ingredients with great songs, comedy, dances and costumes, " says the producer.

The decision to add an extra show by starting on Tuesday has paid off already. Only a few tickets remain on sale for the Thursday performance, available at £6 for adults and £4 for children from The Ebor Inn, Main Street, Bishopthorpe, or on 01904 706190. All other 7.30pm performances and next Saturday's 2pm matinee have sold out.

As is now traditional, the last night features cabaretstyle seating and a bar and consequently is adults only.