A BUDDING actress from Carlisle has saved a theatre’s bacon after the leading lady for their upcoming pantomime had to drop out only a few weeks before opening night.
Kate Sparkes-McSevich, 30, who grew up in Lazonby, had been in the middle of directing the pantomime, ‘Three Little Pigs’ at Carlisle's Green Room Theatre, when the actress playing the lead role of Percy Trotter unfortunately had to pull out.
With too little time left to find and train up a new actress for the role, Kate made the decision to step into the role herself.
Her friend, Verity Ramsden, from Wetheral, (who co-wrote the script alongside local doctor Mitch Ralley) has in turn stepped in to take over as director.
"Kate’s doing an amazing job", said Verity, who also directed last year’s Green Room pantomime, Aladdin.
"She’s a wonderful singer and actor, who brings so much energy to the role. You’d never know she’d only been playing Percy for a few weeks.
"She really feels like the perfect fit for the part, and I know the audiences are going to love her," she said.
READ MORE: Carlisle's Green Room kicks off 70 year celebrations
The Green Room is an amateur theatrical troupe, who perform at their theatre on the West Walls in the middle of Carlisle. The group turned 70 years old this year, carrying out a staple of six shows and a pantomime every year.
Green Room chairman, Jason Munn said: "We often meet parents bringing kids to see the pantomime, who tell us that their parents and grandparents used to bring them to see it when they were little.
"The fact it’s a small theatre means that the shows are really friendly and fun for the kids, with loads of audience participation, which you might not get at some of the bigger venues.
"It’s also great value for money, at only £10 per ticket," he said.
This year’s pantomime follows the story of Percy Trotter, a young pig from the town of Pigton, who has dreams of becoming an artist, much to the amusement of his brothers, Pinky and Porky, and his mother Mrs Trotter.
Meanwhile, the evil property developer Mister Wolf is planning to buy up Pigton and turn it into a meat canning factory.
The show opens on Thursday December 1, and runs every day until December 10 at 7pm (no show on Monday, December 5) with 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are available from Carlisle Tourist Information, or from www.carlislegreenroom.uk/tickets
READ MORE: Carlisle's Green Room marks seventieth anniversary
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