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DANCERS are preparing to stage a pantomime spectacular thanks to a lottery grant.

Friends of the Lewis School of Dance, in Chester-le-Street, were given £5,800 from the Lottery Fund to help put on a production of Dick Whittington and his Cat.

A cast of 50 people, aged from three to 24 years, will be taking part in the production at Parkview Theatre, in Chester-le-Street, from May 30 to June 1.

Marion Lewis, who reopened the Lewis School of Dance in the town 18 months ago after spending 18 years abroad, said: "We were very lucky to get the award, otherwise I do not think we would have been able to put on the production."

She said the Friends - a non-profit organisation - had formed a committee to give young people the opportunity to perform on stage and to give them confidence to act, sing and dance.

The lottery cash will be used to buy a keyboard and pay for costumes and a backcloth for scenery, as well as for the hire of the theatre.

Mrs Lewis said: "I have chosen to stage Dick Whittington for nostalgic reasons - as it was the first production I staged 20 years ago, after first opening my dance school in 1985."

She added: "Since opening 18 months ago, we have already managed to have our first Royal Academy dancing examinations."

Mrs Lewis said the production had loaned six members of the Chester-le-Street Theatre group for the acting roles.

Two members from the Dance Kaleidoscope in Whitley Bay had been invited to boost the contingent of adult dancers.

The lead dancer, playing the Dance Cat, is Rachael Park, 22. She is a teacher at the school and is studying to be a chartered surveyor at Newcastle University. She choreographed two of the dances in the production.

Rehearsals have been held since January.

Dick Whittington will be staged at 6pm on Friday, May 30, and at 2.30pm on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1.

Tickets are £5 at the door or from 0191-387-1333.

9:10am Sunday 11th May 2008

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