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THIRTY years after performing their first pantomime in Aberystwyth, The Wardens are still going strong, bringing traditional fun, slapstick and music to its audiences. The Wardens' pantomime is, and always has been, a great example of town-and-gown collaboration, bringing together students and locals to perform. And this yeas pantomime, Aladdin, which runs until Saturday,19 January, continues that tradition. It all began in 1983 when the Wardens'first pantomime,Jack and the Beanstalk, won rave reviews. The Cambrian News called it "a pantomime professionals could be proud of". It was directed by Richard Cheshire, with choreography by Anna Delany, and musical direction by Aneurin Huws,star of many television shows,including Pobol y Cwm.Since then, The Wardens has proved a great training ground for a succession of performers and behind-the-scenes workers. Stalwarts of the Wardens include Sonia Dobson,Roy and Sue Leett, John Corfield, Theresa Jones and Ioan Guile, who, along with Richard Cheshire, has become well-known for his performances as the dame. Theresa Jones, who has-been treasurer of the Wardens for many years, appeared in the first pantomime as one of the Brokers Men. She has often played "principal boy', and plays Queen Nefertiti in this year's Aladdin. She said:"The best part of being in panto all these years is working with young people and watching them go on to have successful careers in theatre.I also like seeing parents, who as children came to see our pantomimes,now bringing their own children to see it." Ioan Guile takes to the stage as the Emperor in this year's Aladdin, and he can't believe the performance will mark 30 years of panto. He said:"It doesrit seem like 30 years! The Christmas period wouldn't be the same without the fun and excitement of working towards the panto. And working . with so many different students, and people from the local community,has kept it fresh and alive." As well as the annual pantomime, The Wardens are also renowned for their other productions. In recent years they have produced The Adventures ofMr Toad at Arad Goch - a play with music based on The Wind in the Willows-(see picture above), Moll Flanders the Musical, based on Daniel Defoe's classic novel, The Boyfriend at Ceredigion Museum and Nicholas Nickleby Parts One and Two at the Morlan Centre. And once the pantomime has finished, work will begin on their next production, Calendar Giris, to be performed at Aberystwyth Arts Centre in May. Of this years pantomime, Wardens' chairperson,Julie McNicholls said: "This is the fourth lime that the company has performed Aladdin. The first time was in 1984, and further productions followed in 1994 and 2003. A Wardens' panto is often a child's first experience of theatre, with hundreds coming to see the show every year. Children also have the chance to appear in the show, with auditions for very young children and teenagers taking place in the autumn. 'All of the Wardens pantomimes have been in T'heatr y Werin, at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, with the exception of Puss in Boots, in 1999, which was in the Great Hall while the main theatre space was being refurbished." The Wardens Amateur Dramatic Society started in 1944, and was formed by Air Raid Wardens during the Second World War,hence the name.It was setup to read plays, and pass the time during wartime blackouts.'The first production was The Private Secretary, a comedy by Charles Hawtrey, performed on 23 May,1945. .Performed in aid of the Llanbadarn Fawr Welcome Home Fund for returning soldiers, the Wardens first took to the stage in Llanbadarn Fawr Church Hall. The show was.so successful that they went "on tour° - to the former Kings Hall theatre on Aberystwyth's seafront venue. Combining their duties of protecting Aberystwyth from the threat of enemy bombers with.their theatrical aspirations, the hardy group could not have anticipated the legacy of firstclass theatre it would leave the town. In the 1960s/70s, the Wardens became lrnown as the Aberystwyth Players. But in October 1979, the group re-constituted as the Aberystwyth Wardens Dramatic Society. The following year it produced its first play, The Happy Apple, before tackling a musical, The Boyfviend, in 1981. It sold to packed houses! When the Wardens met Richard Cheshire in 1982 to discuss performing a pantomime the following year, it was intended to be a one-off. But it was such a huge success that it went on to become an annual event. Richard Cheshire, director of all the Wardens' pantomimes, said: "It is a great privilege and pleasure to be asked by the Wardens to lead this pantomime company for 30 years. "The team combines almost 100 professional and talented members of the community interested in the performing arts. "Members are drawn from all walks of life, including Aberystwyth University, local businesses and organisations, Coleg Ceredigion, Aberystwyth Arts Centre and local school children from the mid Wales area — a true `eclectic' mix of'town and gown'! "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped make the Wardens' pantomime such an important and unique part of the annual community festivities. "To be voted the best pantomime in Wales by the Western Mail is a true recognition of its standing and an achievement for the people of mid Wales. Long may it continue — Oh yes it will!" Performance details for Aladdin: Wednesday,9 - Friday,ll January (7.30pm);Saturday, 12(11am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm);Sunday,l3 (fpm and 4.30pm); Wednesday,l6 - Friday, l8(7.30pm) and Saturday, 19(11am,2.30pm and 7.30pm). It's a special year for Aberystwyth theatre company The Wardens,as they celebrate an impressive three decades of performing pantos. NORMAN WILLIAMS finds out more... Local youngsters,Sam Ebenezer and Bethan Pearce, star in this year's show as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine