WISHES will come true in Antrobus this month thanks to a magic lamp, its resident genie and the hard work of a close-knit community.

The award-winning Antrobus Players will present Aladdin at the village hall from January 24 to 26 following a short but surprisingly successful history that has seen the group win a regional award.

Janet Featonby, the group’s musical director, said: “Antrobus Players started in 2011 with hardly any experience between us.

“The first year was a steep learning curve, but the pantomime Ali Baba was an amazing success, a sell out at each performance, so we decided to do another one in 2012.

“In 2013 we performed Cinderella gaining four nominations, three for individual awards from the Association of Community Theatre, and won the Association of Community Theatre Spotlight Award for the ‘Most Creative Pantomime’ in the whole of the north west!

“We were up against companies with large theatres so no one was more amazed than we were to hear the result announced.”

Janet said the annual pantomime brings the entire community together, whether individual skills lie under the spotlight or operating it.

“Each year the whole village gets involved,” she said.

“Many people cut out material, sew or just thread elastic in the 100 or so costumes.

“Teams of people build sets or paint them, yet more helpers transform the hall into a magical theatre.

“Props appear from the strangest of places, the people on the stage, who this year range in age from 8 to 84, are just the tip of the iceberg.”

Aladdin will be performed at 7.30pm on January 24 and 25 and at 2.30pm on January 26.

Tickets, priced £7.50 for adults, £5 for children and £22 for a family of two adults and two children, are available by ringing 01606 891379.