“Alice in Wonderland – the Panto” was performed at the Theatre on The Hill, St John’s last week on Thursday and Friday (11, 12 December). The show was entirely produced by sixth form students, in order to raise money for their three nominated charities – Prospect Hospice Savernake, Wiltshire Young Carers, and Wiltshire MIND.
The thirty students taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma worked together to bring a fun, family show to Marlborough, and hundreds of people came along with their families to enjoy the show.
The cast consisted of both IB and A-level students, as well as a handful of teaching staff. The group has rehearsed several times a week over the last two months, and the IB students took responsibility for all the associated roles including sound, lighting, ticket sales and publicity, set design and painting, props and costumes, borrowing and making as much as possible to keep costs to a bare minimum.
The students are delighted to announce that the success of the pantomime has resulted in a profit of £2,100 – £700 for each of the three charities.
Kate Hunter, IB Administrator said: “The target was to raise £1,000 to divide between the three nominated charities – Prospect Hospice Savernake, Wiltshire Young Carers, and MIND, so when the students heard that they had made £2,100 there were huge celebrations. This is a phenomenal success for a small student-run production. The group managed to borrow or make the costumes, set and props at minimal cost, and the income was boosted by smashing the ticket sales target, as well as by the generosity of the audience who donated over £250 to the bucket collections as they left the show. We would like to thank everyone who came and supported the pantomime, and we are delighted that so many people enjoyed the show.”