Members of the congregation at Birchencliffe were in for a big surprise last weekend when the cast of their church pantomime, Aladdin paraded in for a special service to celebrate God’s gifts of musical drama.
Travellers on the busy Halifax Road outside the church were also taken aback to see a Pantomime Dame as well as princesses, fairy queens and handsome princes cross the road for the annual pantomime service on Sunday 1 February.
This year the service was followed by the dedication of a community defibrillator for Birchencliffe – bought with funds raised from last year’s pantomime.
This potentially life-saving piece of equipment – bought on the advice of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service – has been installed outside Birchencliffe Community Centre and will be available at all times for local people to use in an emergency once they have dialed 999 and made contact with the Ambulance Service.
The first Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Gibbs, preached at the pantomime service and dedicated the defibrillator (pictured above with pantomime cast members).
“I am proud to be part of such a thriving tradition” he said. “As a new bishop, I am getting used to dressing in costume and pantomime is a wonderful way of bringing people together to have fun and raise funds for such a good cause. It is great to see the Church getting behind this brilliant scheme to provide a life-saving resource for the local community.”
The Revd Mary Railton-Crowder, vicar of St Cuthbert’s, Birkby and St Philip the Apostle, Birchencliffe and also Area Dean of Huddersfield, said: “This is a lovely opportunity for the church family to celebrate the way pantomime brings our community together and enables us to offer a ministry of welcome, hospitality and laughter.
Members of St Philip’s Dramatic Society (The Cliffites) came in costume and the congregation included princesses, princes, fairy queens, dames, goodies and baddies.
Aladdin will be performed by the Cliffites during half term week. Written by Steph Potts, a member of St Philips PCC, it has involved around 60 people of all ages – every member of some families - either on stage or behind the scenes. And this year even the vicar has been persuaded to join the chorus!
Aladdin runs from Tuesday 17 February – Saturday 21 February at St Philip’s Community Centre.
Evening performances are at 7:15pm with an additional Saturday matinee at 2:15pm.
Tickets: Adults £6, Concessions £5, Children £3.
Tuesday night is Charity Night when the ticket sales will go to Music and The Deaf and that evening’s performance will be interpreted for the deaf by Rebekah Mills Strawson.
For tickets – contact Ann Dyson on 01484 537357.
Please ask when booking for the Tuesday performance if you require seats which give access to the interpreter.