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THE HARBY HARLEQUINS

At the start of the  year the Harby Harlequins stage a pantomime in the Village Hall. The author and director is our own Eddie Lilley.

Harby Harlequins

2006
Present the Pantomime
Robin Hood


Welcome to the greenwood. 
The Harlequins this year relive the story of local boy Robin of Loxley in his epic tussle with “Nasty (Sheriff of) Nottingham” the naughty Norman 
Nobleman. We reveal how “Little John” got his name, Tuck’s dirty habits and how Sebastian became a very merrie man….. and no one Maid Marian do anything she wasn’t paid for.
The production has professional stage lighting, purpose built set, sound and lighting engineers, six piece orchestra, full front of house service (bar and refreshments) and a very talented cast of thousands (or so it seems).

Performances are in Harby village hall 
1st (Wed) to 4th (Sat) February 2006 nightly @ 7.30 and Saturday matinee @ 2.00 pm.

Tickets: Adults £6.00, Children £3.00 with concessions for senior citizens to attend Free on Wednesday night (please pre book these via booking secretary.) ALL Saturday night tickets £6.00.

This, the 8th annual Harlequins pantomime production, is an event attracting ever increasing audience numbers each year. Tickets are always in great demand so book early. These will be on sale on 
FRIDAY 6th JANUARY from 10.00 am onwards
(Box office remains open Mon – Sat 10 am to 8 pm. Closed Sundays)

Bookings: Judith Neal
27 Boyers Orchard, Harby

01949 860713

The 2005 production was 

The Wizard of Hose

Harby village hall
Wednesday to Saturday 2nd to 5th February 7.30 nightly, 
Saturday matinee 2.00 pm

Original script, live musical accompaniment, bar, refreshments, light hearted entertainment. Rehearsals now well under way. 

Tickets on sale 9.00 am Tuesday 4th January from Judith Neal "The Old Forge" Boyers Orchard, Harby, 01949 860713. Adult £6.00. Child £3.00.
All seats for the Saturday evening performance are priced at £6.00. 

As with previous years, senior citizens are invited to attend free of charge on the opening night (Wednesday) but should pre book their tickets through our booking manager.

The Wizard of Hose is the seventh panto offering in as many years from the Harlequins, bringing an evening of original humour to those long, post Christmas nights. As always, with professional musical accompaniment, theatre lighting and costume, and a cast of thousands, you can look forward to a good evening out. Is the Lion really a cowardy custard? Who will tighten the Tin Man's nuts? Will the Scarecrow need re-stuffing before Saturday? Why go to Grantham or Nottingham? This is the show not to miss! The Wizard of Hose. Book early for all performances to avoid disappointment

Within the last year the Harlequins have given away a lot of money to local good causes. We propose a similar opportunity early in 2005. If you have a worthwhile cause we may be able to help YOU. If you wish to apply, please send details to this address before Christmas:- 
Sally Fagan, Harby Harlequins, 2 Birds Lane, Stathern, Melton Mowbray.

Here are some of the pictures of the earlier productions. The photographs are by Martin Fagan.Click on the thumbnails to see the full size image.  Please be patient if it takes time for the image to open on your screen, for it to be a good image  a lot of pixels need to be downloaded onto your computer from cyberspace.

In 2003 it was  

ARFUR - 

THE SWORD IN THE STONE

In 2004 they brought a little tropical sunshine to Harby in January with 

TREASURE ISLAND 

As always, our production is multicultural, non-sexist, non-ageist, without prejudice to race or creed. We poke fun at everyone equally. There is, of course, a long waiting list of people wanting mention in our pantomime. This year, the show has more than a few odd English characters, but we also poke fun at the Irish, Welsh, French, Swedes, Italians, Germans, Indians, Australians and a hitherto undiscovered tribe of cannibals, "The Wassacks" (believed to be found living in Long Clawson). This is a story of intrigue. After a mysterious outbreak of "the black spot", a treasure map comes to life in that quaint Harby pub, "The Olde
Shafted Lugger". Jim Pugwash, with his mum Penelope and Squire "We're British you know" Trelawney, set off in search of Treasure Island aboard The Olde Squawking Hen. Jim's girlfriend, Alice Slack, with a little help from the Harby garage fairy, smuggles herself aboard in disguise and unwittingly falls in with a most unsavory band of pirates……… led by Long John Silver. Will Jim find the treasure? Is Pot Luck Dick a kind of north country stew? Did the Reverend Pugwash take up his missionary position? Will Long John Silver be limp forever? These issues will all be resolved as our remarkable story unfolds.


The Harlequins first performed pantomime in January 1999 with Robin Hood.
It was an instant hit and local people could not believe what they saw. The Three Musketeers, Aladdin, Cinderella and Arfur, the Sword in the Stone followed successively. Each production enhancing the credibility and following of the group, so much so that demand for tickets has increased year by year and an extra night had to be included from 2002 onwards. Harlequins have always been supported by local musician; Robin Hood initially with keyboards, Musketeers with added drums. From 2002 a whole new dimension was added when a six-piece band was formed especially for the pantomime. While continuing to give their very valuable support to the panto, they are now performing in their own right and are available for bookings (Ring Paul Steward 01949 860112 re "Belvoir Academy"). The group is indebted to the committee of Harby Village Hall who have made the premises available for rehearsals/performances. We are pleased to report that some of previous years surpluses have been used to replace stage curtains and hall chairs providing a continuing benefit to users. A further £1000 has recently been "recycled" into local community groups, a trend we hope to continue in the future.

A great deal of hard work goes into putting this type of presentation to the public. The cast learns and rehearses their lines for 4 months. Planning costume, properties, scenery, tickets, choreography, publicity and marketing, and front of house makes this show a very big co-operative effort. I applaud all associated with the show who have pulled together to make it a success.

Paul Steward, Helen Hubbard, Clare Wooler and Sally Fagan are superb on stage but just as productive away from it. Their commitment and innovation is priceless and their enthusiasm rubs off on others. If I needed a backbone, I would pick Richard Hedley. His loyalty, support and overwhelming hard work are invaluable. Anne Spikings and Ali Morris had to drop out through illness this year. Both have been missed and we wish them a speedy recovery.

On behalf of the Harlequins, thank you for your continuing support, we hope
you enjoy Treasure Island .

Eddie Lilley,  Director

Click here to see the programme. Photographs by Martin Fagan.