Creative dancer Ellie designs panto programme cover (From Dorset Echo)
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Creative dancer Ellie designs panto programme cover
5:30pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By James Tourgout
BEHIND YOU: Jessica Ives, Andrew Callaway and Sarah Pitcher present the prize to Ellie Wellman at Bridport TIC
TALENTED young Ellie Wellman is looking forward to the panto after she designed the programme cover.
The Bridport Primary School pupil beat 50 entries to claim the honour for Bridport Pantomime Players’ Aladdin production in February.
Ellie, 11, who lives in Bridport, attended a curtain raiser at the tourist information centre to receive her prize of free tickets for the extravaganza.
She said: “I was excited to win.
“I looked at some other drawings and then used my imagination.”
It is the first time the Pantomime Players have held a competition for youngsters to design the programme cover.
Ellie, who has a brother Mannie, nine, has a double reason to celebrate – she will also be performing in the panto too.
She added: “I was in the panto last year and I will be dancing in it this year.”
Artist Keith Cast was the independent judge and picked Ellie’s cover design showing a glittering palace to grace the programme cover.
Makeda Downes, of St Mary’s Primary School, and Charlie Gee, of Thorners School, came runners-up in the contest.
Jess Ives, who plays Wishee Washee, Andrew Callaway and Sarah Pitcher, who will be in the chorus line, presented Ellie with her prize.
Jess said: “There were some fantastic entries.
“Keith said that he liked Ellie’s because of its brightness and its detail.
“We held the competition this year because we wanted to do something to promote the pantomime and get some more children involved.
“We wanted to bring back the tradition of getting all the family along.”
Jess said that preparations for this year’s pantomime were going very well. It is the 49th Bridport Pantomime Players’ panto. Some of the best entries along with Ellie’s, Makeda’s and Charlie’s are on show in the tourist information centre.
They are hanging on a special ‘Widow Twankey’s washing line’.
The programme design had to include the title Aladdin and the £1 price of the programme.
The competition was open to all aged 11 and under.
The panto is being held on Wednesday, February 6 to Saturday, February 9 at the Electric Palace. Tickets are on sale at Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Visit facebook.com/bridportpantomimeplayers for more details.
