Andy Munns
The stars of Dick Whittington, the Salisbury Playhouse Pantomime, visited Salisbury District Hospital yesterday afternoon (7th December), bringing some joy to patients and staff.
Will Carey (Dick Whittington), Olivia Hewitt Jones (Alice Fitzwarren), David Rumelle (Sarah the Cook) and Natalie Winsor (Fairy Bowbells) all jumped aboard a Salisbury Reds special panto service from the Playhouse to the Hospital to visit four wards, including the children’s ward and the spinal unit.
The cast met with patients, staff and volunteers, with everyone they encountered breaking into a smile as the cast walked the corridors in full costume and make-up.
First, they were taken to the Stars Appeal Book Shop and the League of Friends sweet shop, where they met volunteers who helped raise thousands of pounds for the Stars Appeal and hospital every year.
They stopped by the children’s ward first, chatting with the young people in their families – spending time talking to each of them and handing out some goodies and chocolates as they went.
After stopping by a couple of other wards, the cast finished their visit at the Spinal Unit, talking to staff and patients as they wrapped up their visit.
Will Carey (Dick Whittington) told Salisbury Radio, “Just walking round the corner and seeing these faces that were very serious and very glum just light up where a dame walks around in a big wig, or a little cat in a backpack, or Alice in her sparkly dress. That’s the reason why we do it.”
Lewis Bell, aged 14, who got to meet the panto cast when they visited Sarum Children’s Ward, said: “They were funny and really cool. It was a nice way to cheer up the day. The visit put a smile on my face and I feel happier.”
Annamarie Tongs, who’s currently being cared for at the Hospital’s Spinal Treatment Centre and met the panto cast during their visit, said: “It was a nice little surprise. We can’t go to the pantomime this year, but the panto has come to us. I felt a bit flat today but feel perkier after meeting the pantomime characters.”
Tickets for Dick Whittington are still available but selling fast. The show runs until Sunday, 7th January – they can be purchased here – https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/dick-whittington
Tickets for next year’s Panto, Sleeping Beauty, can also be purchased from Wiltshire Creative. If you buy before the end of January, you can grab them at this year’s prices – https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/sleeping-beauty
