Where it all began....   1998

It all started on the way home from playing a football fixture at Wainfleet. The topic of conversation was how we could raise some much needed funding for the football club which was based in Hogsthorpe. Sadly, the club no longer exists but at the time had both Saturday and Sunday teams which were run from the Victoria tavern. ‘Let’s put on a panto’! Volunteers were sought, a Dick Whittington script was put together and the Fairly Arthritic, Repertory and Thespian Society was born. The old Village Hall in Hogsthorpe was the venue where a stage was assembled by means of wooden boxes with black polythene sheeting acting as curtains. Originally, this was to be a one-off pantomime with no plans to do any future shows. However, such was the response, we are still here lots of panto’s later. The first three productions were held in Hogsthorpe but then moved to Chapel St Leonards when the old Village Hall was demolished. All the monies raised these days go towards local organisations. We thank everyone for their continued support.

Richard Stapleton