Rumble in the Jungle (From Worcester News)

Rumble in the Jungle

12:40pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

THE PANTO spirit is still alive and well as the Claines Amateur Theatre Society prepare for their forthcoming production.

CATS’s latest offering see’s another departure from the more traditional pantomime with Panto in the Jungle, directed by Chris Hooper.

Set deep inside the African jungle, it tells the story of the evil witch doctor Witchety Grub who transforms himself into Prince Mabooboo of the Oomeegoolie tribe, who is about to be crowned King, and become the land’s new ruler.

But can heroes Cara Loft (Judy Hooper), her mother Dame Doris (Jeremy Field), the Rastafarians Ginger (Sarah Hadley), Nuts (Abbi Jakeman) and Mawinky (Deborah Field) and their friends find the magical Golden Banana and save the day?

The show will be especially poignant for Reverend Stephen Agnew, who plays the dastardly Witchety Grub, as it will be his last panto with the society.

Mr Agnew has been involved with the group since he came to Claines 12 years ago but is moving to Oldswinford.

But he said he has thoroughly enjoyed being CATS’s resident villain.

“I’m very much looking forward to it, I always get lots of reaction,” he said.

“It’s nice scaring people, in the nicest possible way.

“It’s a bit of light relief.”

Mr Agnew said his wife and other members of his family are also part of CATS and said he will miss the “friendship and comradery of the group”.

CATS was formed by a few enthusiastic amateur dramatic performers during the summer of 1997 who thought a local theatre group, affiliated to the local church, Claines St John Baptist, would be a great way to help entertain parish members and friends.

Panto in the Jungle runs from Monday to Saturday, February 13-18 at Claines Church Hall.

Tickets cost £6 each and can be booked by calling Fay Hooper on 01905 355929 or visiting clainescats.org.uk.

The group are also performing their next summer show Reflections – rock and pop classics with a twist on July 6 and 7, inside St John Baptist church, Claines, following the success of last year’s summer show covering songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell and Joseph.