Performers are ‘looking on the bright side of life’ despite the unexpected removal of boards promoting their upcoming production of a Monty Python-inspired musical comedy.

Weymouth Operatic Society (WOS) is putting on a production of Spamalot at Weymouth Pavilion next week.

But members say someone has been going round Weymouth taking down advertisement boards for the show.

Fifty boards promoting the show have been placed in various locations, with permission from authorities. Around 20 of them have been removed, including from Buxton Road, the harbourside and Ferrybridge.

Their removal has been reported to Dorset Police. 
Stella Brading, chairman of the 100-year-old volunteer-run WOS said hundreds of pounds have been spent on the boards and posters for the show.

She said: “We’ve got someone going round with a pair of scissors, cutting them off and taking them away.”

She added: “We work really hard in the community and this is almost a kick in the teeth.”

Mrs Brading appealed for whoever removed the advertisements to give them back to the society.

She said: “We just want someone to be a bit charitable to us and give our boards back.”

The Spamalot production has cost the Weymouth Operatic Society £31,000 to put on, as Mrs Brading says the society likes to make its productions as professional as it can.

However, the society is concerned the removal of the posters may have had an effect on bookings for the show.

Mrs Brading said: “We have compared our ticket sales from the production we put on last year and they are slightly down.”

WOS is particularly concerned because they still have to compete with professional shows at Weymouth Pavilion, which are better resourced. 

The society has replaced some of the boards, but even some of these have been taken down.

Mrs Brading was adamant that it would not be any authority taking them down as she said the society has sought permission for the advertisement boards from the relevant authorities.

Both Dorset County Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said they were not responsible for the removal of the boards.

Despite many of the boards being taken down, Mrs Brading is confident the society would be able to take the setback in its stride.

She said: “We have to take everything on the chin and that’s the way we are. We will put on an extremely good show.”

Tickets for the show, which runs from Wednesday, May 30, to Saturday, June 3 can be booked at weymouthpavilion.com