Aladdin On The Jolly Roger

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London’s Largest Charity Panto Announces West London Extravaganza

A West London school is being transformed into a desert islandand pirate ship for London’s largest amateur charity pantomime Aladdin On The Jolly Roger.

The Caribbean romp, featuring dastardly Pirates, beautiful desert islanders and a magical genie plays at the Hurlingham and Chelsea school, Peterborough Road SW6, from 7 – 11 December and aims to raise over £30,000 for charity.

Five hundred people per night are expected to see the production which transforms the school hall with £500,000 of lighting, staging and the latest computer generated effects. Widow Twanky – played by a City banker – leads the flamboyant 35 strong cast in audience fun and games and participation songs.  

A special children’s matinee performance is on 11 December at 3pm, tickets are just £1 for children and concessions and £8 for adults.  Special needs and community groups can attend for FREE.

The cast and support team is made up of volunteers from across West London who have given up their weekends and evenings to learn lines and songs as well as painting the set and selling advertising.   Gavin McNicoll, the show’s producer, said:

“It’s great to be able to put on a show in the heart of the community and raise serious funds for worthy causes.  This is our seventh year of putting on a pantomime and our support and audiences have grown, helping us to raise over  £90,000 for charity.  We hope this year will be another barnstorming success and encourage everyone to come and see us and help raise even more money for charity”.

Panto proceeds support three main charities, Research Into Eating Disorders; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and The Royal Star and Garter Homes for ex service men and women.  

Back End Productions, the company behind the panto, contributes over £10,000 to Hurlingham and Chelsea school in cash and sponsorship each year.  This year its donation of £15,000 will maintain and enhance the school’s theatre facilities and enable one pupil to attend a summer school at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Aladdin On The Jolly Roger is supported by the White Horse Pub, Parsons Green, local and famous Italian restaurant Il Pagliaccio, Johnny Van Haeften Old Flemish and Dutch Master Paintings and estate agents Friend and Falcke and Lane Fox.    

Lane Fox Estate Agents have agreed to donate five per cent of all sales and lettings fees to the charities supported by the pantomime on instructions received by end January 05 – if the customer mentions Aladdin on the Jolly Roger.  Similarly Friend and Flacke have agreed to donate five per cent of all sales and lettings fees on customers signed by end January 05 to their favoured charity the Teenage Cancer Trust – again, if the customer mentions Aladdin on the Jolly Roger.

Special needs groups interested in attending the Saturday matinee and local companies interested in sponsoring the pantomime should contact the box office help line on 07816 170 140.

November 28, 2004