An Aberdeen amateur dramatics company is about to open its final pantomime at the venue it has called home for nearly 40 years.
The cast and crew of the Attic Theatre Group will begin their run of 18 performances of Aladdin at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Thursday, knowing it will be the last time they take to the centre’s stage for the annual festive event.
The company has staged its pantomime there every year since 1972 but is now looking for a new venue for next year’s production after bosses at the centre announced they would stage an in-house pantomime in 2010.
Pete Thomson, who has been with the theatre group for 30 years and co-wrote and produced this year’s panto, said: “We are disappointed the venue is not going to be available for us next year. The arts centre has become Attic’s spiritual home.
“We would like to continue staging other shows at the arts centre but, as with everything, it is a case of raising the necessary finances.
“We are looking for a new venue for next year’s panto, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find something that will work for us and our audience.
“Attic is determined to stage a panto somewhere next year, though. It has been going for 37 years and we do not want to be the ones to break that run.”
Annie Inglis, who was one of Attic’s founding members in 1960, said the group’s panto was synonymous with the arts centre, but added that she was hopeful it would continue at a new venue next year.
“A lot of people who came to the panto as children now take their children or grandchildren and with such a loyal audience it has to continue,” she said.
“The arts centre had to make a difficult decision and I think a lot of people were hurt by it, but the theatre group will survive.”
Paula Gibson, venue manager at Aberdeen Arts Centre, which is run by Castlegate Arts, said bosses at the centre were “acutely aware” of Attic’s contribution to the centre and arts in Aberdeen but had been asked why only one group was given the chance to stage a panto there.
Mrs Gibson said that, following discussions with centre users and Attic Theatre, venue bosses decided to stage a show for which members of all Aberdeen’s amateur theatre groups could audition.
“Initial feedback from arts centre users has been very positive and we look forward to the forthcoming preparation over the next year,” she said.