CINDERELLA COMES TO CULDROSE FOR THE FIRST TIME

Serving personnel and their families at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose had the pleasure of a touring pantomime at the West Cornwall base recently.

In association with the British Forces Foundation (BFF), Culdrose Theatre Group hosted the pantomime "Cinderella" in the air station’s theatre. The two performances were for service personnel and their families as well as Culdrose-based civilians. Tickets were snapped-up fast in the build up and a sell-out crowd of over 300 people were treated to a delightful experience.

“The show was very well received and pitched at exactly the correct level for the families,” said Lieutenant Mark Taylor, RNAS Culdrose theatre manager. “The interaction with the audience before, during and after the show was absolutely fantastic.”

Touring around the country from Scotland to the West Country in their distinctive “Panto-Bus”, the BFF panto has entertained at Royal Naval bases, Army garrisons and at RAF camps. It has proven to be a morale boost to service families who’s loved ones are deployed and brings  a lot of simple fun to its audiences.

Mark continued, “I was approached by a Service wife who told me that her daughter, who has struggled with her father being away but was smiling and laughed out loud throughout the show for the first time since his departure.”  

Whilst at the Air Station they took the opportunity to meet up with some of the audience for a quick photograph, in front one of Culdrose’s Iconic Search and Rescue Sea Kings from 771 Naval Air Squadron.

Now that RNAS Culdrose is on the Panto-Bus route it is hoped they are included in next years seasonal return to West Cornwall and more dates put on at the Culdrose venue. “We’ve hosted one so we’re defiantly up for anymore – Oh yes we are!”