A pantomime star has been given a souvenir programme and a scrapbook filled with photographs to commemorate her first appearance on stage at the Theatre Royal in Bath.
Eleven-year-old Ava Morris, from Southleigh in Bradford on Avon, was one of the 16-strong Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance ensemble who performed in the theatre’s Aladdin pantomime which closed on Sunday with its last performance.
Ava, who is a Year 7 pupil at Hayesfield School in Bath, said: “It was absolutely amazing and exciting. The cast were really nice people and it was really good fun.
“The theatre is massive and it was just an amazing opportunity. Jon Monie, who wrote the pantomime, was really funny and the rest of the cast were really nice to all of us.
“On our last night, all the cast posed for photographs on stage and we were given a scrapbook and a souvenir programme.”
Ava joined Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance in 2017 after seeing the theatre’s winter 2016/17 pantomime, which coincidentally, was also Aladdin.
Ava’s mum and dad, Lisa and Kevin Morris, went to watch her perform, along with family and friends from Manchester, Wales, Somerset and Devon.
Mrs Morris said: “She saw the children on stage in Aladdin and said she wanted to be like one of them. I’m delighted she has been able to achieve her ambition.”
During the run, Ava performed 26 times in matinee and evening performances, with the Dorothy Coleborn ensemble split into two teams of eight dancers.
She got to appear alongside its big stars, including Jon Monie as Wishee Washee, Nick Wilton as Widow Twankey, Michael Chance as the Emperor, Kaysha Nada as Princess Jasmine, Amy Perry as the Spirit of the Ring, Maddison Tyson as the Genie of the Lamp, Alex Aram as Aladdin, and Tom Lister as the wicked Abanazar.
She took part in two weeks of daily dance rehearsals at the Natural Theatre Company premises in Widcombe and on stage at the Theatre Royal in the run-up to the show.
Mrs Morris added: “She loved it and thoroughly enjoyed it all. It was incredible and very exciting to see her realise her ambition. Lots of people came to watch her.”
Ava now hopes to be back on stage on Sunday, March 26 when the Theatre Royal hosts a performance to celebrate the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance centenary.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here