Soap starRich ard at h elm as pan


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THE cast of Alad d insailed into Maid stone aboard th e Kentish Lad y pleasu re cru iser to lau nch th is year’s Hazlitt Th eatre panto. In ablaze of colour and flanked


Anotherincursion at Larkfield park


by the pupils of East Borough Pri- mary School, the players waved to the public as they arrived inMaid- stone town centre. Starring stand-up comic, actor


and singer Richard Blackwood, the Christmas family favourite runs fromDecember 1 -3 1 at the famous 3 5 0 -seat venue. Most recently, Richard played


Vincent in EastEnders. He plays the Genie in this year’s


panto, while crowd favourite Eliz- abeth Bright returns for asecond year, this time as Princess Jasmine. Richard told Downs Mail: “I re-


TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -


pulled on to Gighill Green in Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lineswithin hours. It is un- derstood the fami- lies in- vol v e d have been of f e r ing tree felling services to residents in the area. Pa r i s h


ally like Maidstone – it’s the place that everybody needs to head to in Kent. The people are sowelcoming and friendly. I can’t wait to get started. “Playing in a soap means that


cou n ci l chairman David Thornewell says more has to be done to stop the travelling com- munity running circles around the police and local councils. Hesays the job ofmoving on trav-


you can always shoot a scene again. Live theatre is obviously dif-


ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-


tomime cast sails in


ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be


ferent, except that with panto, the ‘Spooktacular’ at the farm mess-ups all become part of the fun. It doesn’tmatter somuch. “With panto,


doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWestMalling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal teamserved an eviction notice but it to k aweek to the audience is


young, but I loveworkingwith the effort to increas


kids because they are true and the rthe public land, near theM20.


eaction is always genuine.


really gel together because a cast that gets on always transmits that on stage. And I think it’s obvious when it is not happening.” This is the fourth panto for Richard, who recently left the part


the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”


“I am sure that we as acast will


enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an security further on


Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of


of VincentHubbard in EastEnders. KivanDene is playingAbanazar,


Alessandro Lubrano is Aladdin and Erin Lewis takes on the role of Slave of the Ring. A Hazlitt Theatre spokesman


said: “The boat trip worked really well again this year andwe’remas- sively grateful for the response. “We’re also grateful to the East


Borough Primary School for allow- ing their pupils to become our sort of mascots for the day. The cast members loved them.”


Caravanbu rnt


downmailco.uk downsmail.co.uk


ou t inSh epway ATRAVELLER’S caravanwas burnt out after an illegal incursion on the green at Shepway.


Locals were unhappy that


smashed glass, human excrement and litter covered the green and a football court next to Shepway Youth Community Centre.


Whenthegypsypartyfinallylefton


September 1 8 , it is suspected that a caravan left behind was deliberately setalight.


One local said: “Wemay not have


wanted themhere but therewas no need to do that -whoever did it.”


It is not clear if the travellers or


MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and


someone local started the blaze, which completely destroyed the trailer. It was later removed by the authorities.


Maidstone Borough Council had


discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few


other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life


5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.


After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from


served anotice four days after the travellers arrived. The local added: “They made abit of anuisance of themselves - breaking bottles and using the football court as apublic toilet. No one would mind that much if they just went about their business without disturbing other people. Travellers are like anyone else - there’s good and bad in all walks of life.”


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