A WIZARD, tin man and lion were just some of the stars strutting the stage during Walkerburn’s pantomime.

From Friday evening to Sunday audiences were whisked to the Wizard of Oz’s magical world in Oyster Theatre’s third annual pantomime since 2012.

An ever growing and enthusiastic cast walked the yellow brick road and sung their hearts out to bring the story alive. There were a few deviations from the story many will have remembered from their past and the addition of some new characters not around when the story was written by L. Frank Baum, in 1900.

One new addition was a character played by Sean Tennant.

As he burst onto the stage in a rhinestone suit strumming his guitar he was asked: “Are you the King of Oz?” absolutely deadpan and with stick-on sideburns to add to his outfit he replied: “No I’m the King of Rock.” As Dorothy and her band attempted to find the Wizard one of the set pieces was a mock-up of televisions’s Mastermind quiz, complete with the theme music, The questions were not too difficult: “What is the gap between two mountains called?” Predictably the contestant replied 'pass’. The third question though required a slightly different answer: Who is the best rugby football club in the World?” Of course, in true pantomime tradition, it had to be Walkerburn.

“Every show was packed, with Sunday’s performance attracting lots of children leading to some excellent audience participation,” said producer Kinta Lindsay.

Oyster Theatre Company especially wanted to thank The Cooperative in Innerleithen for sponsorship as part of their Community Pioneer Programme and for giving the cast a chance to perform songs in the store foyer on Saturday November 22.

Other organisations and individuals singled out for praise for their help with the production were: The Harry Ballantyne Club; The Oven Door; TAVO; Walkerburn Post Office; Patrick Diack and his staff at Peebles Hydro and Park Hotel; The Border Studio; Kath and the raffle team; Shakespeare at Traquair; Margaret and the refreshments team and finally the mystery fisherman from 'Up North’ who a rehearsal in the HB Club and donated £10.

The full cast was: Dorothy - Rose Moncur; Aunt Em - Alistair Moody; Scarecrow - Arran Houston; Lion - Ryan Cochrane; Tin Man - Aishling Badford; Elvis - Sean Tennant; Glinda - Skye Houston; Letitia - Abbie Nisbet; Olga - Sandie Wilson; Doctor/Wizard - Angus Wolfe Murray; Chamberlain - Harry Wilson; Gatekeeper- Stuart Mitchell; Woodsman - Greg Zokas; Munchkins/Citizens/Monkeys/Bats/Woodlanders - Leo Mills; Harris Houston; Jura Houston; Kayleigh Zokas; Greg Zokas; Reece Hunter; Tiegan Hunter; Summer Spence and Stuart Mitchell.

Director - Sue Tickner; Producer - Kinta Lindsay; Stage Management - Kerry Holness, David and Glen Stevens; Costumes - Lynda McPherson; The Tin Man Costume - Glen and David Stevens; Make-up - Pam Byres and Ivy Corsie; Music and Lights - Frank Usher; Props - The Cast and their Families; Artwork - Kelly Hasender; Prompt - Kinta Lindsay and Carys Allen.