Like a lot of good ideas, the idea of a village pantomime came to life over a few drinks in The Green Man!
Ann Wright, a member of the Dunchurch Festival Group had watched a colleague in another village panto and voiced ‘we could do that.’ Although there was total agreement from all present (no doubt fuelled by the odd drink or two!) in the cold light of day it did seem quite a daunting task. However, undeterred, posters went up and fliers were distributed and lots of cajoling telephone calls were made. Thus, the Dunchurch Pantomaniacs (which was originally funded by the Dunchurch Festival Group) was ‘born.’ Following their very first 1990 production of ‘Little Miss Muffet’, the group became a separate self-funding organisation and ever since have held an annual production which has raised significant funds for charity.
Very few of us who were involved in the early days had experience of such productions but we did have the benefit, knowledge and help of the late Ray Allan and of course our dear and much missed friend Don Townend who for many years nurtured the group. This coupled with a wealth of enthusiasm and as it turns out, quite a bit of undiscovered talent led to the Pantomaniacs success.