Rehearsals and auditions start as Doncaster theatre group make first move towards a panto this winter

The Black Cat Reborn theatre group, based in Armthorpe, do not yet know for certain whether they will be able to stage their production of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

But they are all set to start rehearsals in a public hall next month and have decided if things don’t work out, they will stream it online.

The 16 members of the group started their auditions and rehearsals this week with an online reading on a video conferencing service. And they plan to meet for their first, socially distanced, rehearsal at Auckley Parish Centre on August 9.

They have limited their membership to 20, and have room for four more people. They hope to perform in front of an audience at the Parklands Club on Wheatley Hall Road if they are allowed to, with tickets sold to families who can share tables at the venue.

They are hoping to be able to put on their show in the first week of January 2021.

Helen Evans, who runs the group said: “We are looking for actors but are desperate for costumes and props. We couldn’t do our fundraising cabaret due to the virus and are very limited to what fundraising activities we can actually do now.

“We have written social distancing into the script, so it should work well. We have jokes in about the subject.

"We will be limiting the audience to 100 to allow for people to stay distanced, too.

"The hope is that we will be allowed to do it by then. But if not we will just make a video and broadcast it on the internet.

"We’re not allowed to do any singing, and I think that is something that we are missing, because we like singing.

"But as a group, I think we have the advantage that we don’t have any overheads. I really feel for theatre groups that have running costs.”

Anyone who can help with Arabian, One Thousand and One Nights themed costumes and props, email [email protected].