PANTO actors have jumped into bed with a local hospice after a confession from one of its leading stars.
Carry On and Confessions film star Robin Askwith visited St Teresa’s Hospice’s St T’s Superstore, to show his support after the charity provided him with a single bed for his dressing room during his six week stint in the pantomime Aladdin at the town’s Hippodrome.
The Superstore, on McMullen Road, Darlington, helps fund the work of St Teresa’s Hospice, which provides free care and support for residents of Darlington, South West Durham and North-Yorkshire who are affected by life-limiting illness.
“I have to confess that doing two shows a day, seven days a week, takes it out of you a bit and I needed a bed to have a lie down to help recharge my energy levels in-between shows,” said Robin.
“We start at 12 noon and don’t finish until 10pm so it’s a long day and your dressing room becomes a bit like your home.
“St Teresa’s were great at helping source me a single bed and delivering it to the theatre too and it’s a pleasure to come along with the rest of the cast today to thank them and show our support for the charity and the incredible work they do.”
Robin, who takes on the role of the evil villain, Abanazar, was accompanied to St T’s Superstore by fellow panto stars Zoe Birkett, Louie Spence, Eric Potts, Liam Mellor and Carl Douglas.
St Teresa’s shop team leader Yvonne Macdonald said: “We have requests all the time from film, TV and theatre productions sourcing props and looking for special one off items.
“Only last week our shop on High Row, Darlington, sold a number of items of furniture to a film company, to which our staff were sworn to secrecy over the use of, before they were then re-donated back to us to sell again.
“We get a lot of period items donated as well as everyday household furniture and decorative pieces making our shop a real Aladdin’s cave of treasures - its great to be able to help out one of the towns panto stars and their donation will go towards helping the work that we do at St Teresa’s.”