Head of the 'Men In Black' - Our Stage Manager, Rich Hole

As part of the 'Men in Black', stage manager Rich Hole takes on the mammoth role of overseeing the construction and building of the set, as well as managing all aspects of the scenery plot. 

Sharing the stage with his wife Kelly, and daughters Maddison and Miley, we catch up with him on the fun and terror of making everything work behind the scenes..

Firstly, how did you join the Wight Strollers?

"When Maddison, my daughter, joined during Joseph (2016) as part of the children's choir, I got dragged in backstage! It was during that time that I was shoved over stage right with Graham (Warren) and we had the enviable task of trying to work out when to throw this goat on stage! Neither of us really had a clue.. but here we are!"

You then joined us as stage manager, how did you feel when you were approached?

"My first year of stage managing was Robin Hood (2019), prior to that I had done a few shows backstage but then suddenly I fell into stage manager! It was a bit of a weird feeling. Although, Sarah  (Scotcher) had asked me, all of the guys backstage had sort of voted me in...I was honoured. Privileged really, because it's a huge responsibility under the name of Strollers. It's a big team effort."

Brilliant! Moving on, I can imagine how tough it is, working backstage and enabling swift scene  changes...what makes it more enjoyable?

"It is definitely the blokes backstage, and having a laugh. If they weren't there it would be nowhere near as fun. Mind you, I do love a bit of chaos and pressure, that's where I thrive so it's the type of environment I would enjoy anyway. We have a good laugh backstage, definitely."

Switching focus - you've obviously got your wife and daughters on stage, what has been your proudest moment?

"Seeing Miley in her first principal role in Robin Hood, seeing Kelly in hers in Sleeping Beauty and then seeing Maddison really blossom in the dance troupe, really is it for me. Robin Hood has to be my proudest moment, not just because of my girls but because of the backstage crew. It was my first year stage managing and they made it so much easier for me."

What about funniest moment?

'The final show is always funny, when we do the pranks. I always go back to Robin Hood, when I said it would be rather amusing to put a poo bag in Sarah's tree, as she was the Mighty Oak. We were just going to use a brownie, but Tony (Scotcher), her husband, actually got one of Oscar, her dog's, poo bags with actual dog poo in it. If you watch back the DVD, it makes the final cut!! Sarah's reaction was priceless and that will forever be a favourite moment!!"

I really didn't know that happened! Poor Sarah.. let's talk about something else! 

"I promise, it was funny!!"

I'm sure! So.. what makes sharing the stage with your family so special?

"It's just so nice that we can all be involved with it. The fact that one has gone into it and now we're all into it, is brilliant. It's a real family thing that we can all talk about and share a love of, it's great."

Lastly, and quite possibly the most important question - is there any possibility you'd go on stage?

"Sarah had actually asked if I'd go on stage for Priscilla, but I did turn that down. I said I've got no rhythm, so I can't dance, and I can sing of a fashion but being on stage? Hmm...we'll see!"

I'll take that as a yes! Thank you Rich, for giving up countless hours at the scenery store and making sure that our shows are so professional and seamless. We, quite literally, couldn't do it without you! 

Team Robin Donate to Island Charities

We met as Team Robin for one final time last night, to give away our proceeds from the pantomime - this is why we do what we do...and last night just cemented for all of us how worthwhile every ounce of hard work is that goes into our shows.

We are thrilled to announce that this year we are donating £8,025 split across seven Island charities and good causes, each so very worthy of support.

All from the proceeds of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, we are giving £2,200 to the IW Alzheimer Cafe, £2,000 to the IOW Food Bank, £1,000 to WightSAR, £1,000 to the IOW World Scout Jamboree Team, £1,000 to The COOK Project, £300 to the 1st Ryde Brownies, and £525 to Ben Rothwell.

To every single person who supported our 2019 pantomime, from all of us here at The Wight Strollers...thank-you, from the bottom of our hearts.

This brings our grand total over the last financial year to over £22,000 given away to Island charities from this pantomime and from last summer's Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - The Musical. We could not be more proud, or more grateful to the Island community for continuing to support us so that we can keep doing what we do.

Stay tuned for more news from us as the year progresses...and look out for us this summer at the Island's carnivals once again!

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Robin Hood - Fantastic Feedback!

Wowee! What a run we had at Medina Theatre with our pantomime, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, and the feedback has been tremendous!

We've had three brilliant reviews - from IW Theatre, Sardines Magazine and the Isle of Wight County Press - and plenty of online feedback, not to mention all the wonderful comments from people as they left the theatre to the front-of-house team and some of our characters on the 'Meet and Greet', and even a standing ovation at two of the performances...I think it's safe to say our audiences are happy!

Here's just a little of the feedback we've had over the course of the run:

"West End, eat your heart out!"
- Ken Fowler

"What a fantastic night, we didn't stop laughing!"
- Helen Fowler

Another year, another amazing show - you guys never disappoint. Brilliant."
- Samantha Stean

"My first ever panto as an adult and I'm definitely hooked. Totally amazing evening, fabulous singing, dancing and acting, sets and costumes were fantastic - the whole evening spent grinning, laughing or clapping. The talent and confidence of even the youngest actor - very inspiring. Thank you all so much."
- Andy Thearle

"Yet another amazing performance. My hands are still stinging from the clapping. Lots of new faces this year. The "Merry Men" were brilliant. Hope to see more of them together. My favourite performer this time was Alice Lindsay, absolutely amazing. Her and Sarah would make a fantastic Vicar of Dibley and Alice. Roll on next year. Well done everyone."
- Lynda Waddams

"Absolutely fantastic, well done to you all for such a wonderful show, you should all be very proud of your performance."
- Tony Parker

"It was magnificent- highly recommended!"
- Maureen Sullivan

"Absolutely hilarious...wonderful performance this afternoon - whole family went, very suitable for all ages...this is well worth seeing!!!"
- Janice Frohnsdorff 

"Excellent Show went this afternoon.We all had a Fantastic time."
- Jenny Lewis



Happy audiences, and a happy cast and crew...what more could we have asked for?

Thank-you so much to everyone who has supported our production of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood  - we'll be making our charity donations at our AGM in April, so watch this space for the total!

Meet the Director - A Chat With Sarah Scotcher

Directing shows for a company the size of The Wight Strollers is no mean feat, but Sarah Scotcher has been doing it a long time now, so there must be some appeal!

A founder member of The Wight Strollers in its current form, Sarah was a pupil at the Nesta Meech School of Dance, the banner under which our pantomimes were originally performed, from the age of 9 - and the rest, as they say, is history!

The first show Sarah directed for the company was our February 2008 production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but both prior to that and since she has also taken on almost every type of panto role under the sun, from princess to villain, dame to dwarf.

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood is the fourteenth show Sarah has directed for the company, and we wanted to find out what it is that she loves about the Strollers, why she enjoys directing, and what keeps her coming back for more...

What's been the most challenging production for you to direct?
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - The Musical. The scale of the whole production, the number of costume changes, the bus...it's such a massive show, and it's all very fast-paced.

But was it worth the challenges?
Of course!

And what about directing in general? What is it you like about directing shows?
Because it's exciting, when I see it get on stage, to think that I've brought all of it together and managed to put my own slant and ideas on things and make them a reality. You start off with a blank canvas and you can add bits to it.

And on the other side of the coin, what's the toughest thing about being a show director?
My role crosses over into Producer a fair bit, which means I get pulled in all different directions and that can be really tricky. Critiquing your friends is always a tough task, too!

You've been a Stroller for almost fifty years - that's crazy! But you obviously love it, so what is it - in your opinion - that makes The Wight Strollers special?
It's a family-orientated company, it's a very friendly group, and above all it raises money for Island charities. And it's extremely special to me because I've seen it grow from something smaller, much smaller - I remember the days when we performed at Ryde Pavilion and Carisbrooke High School! - into what it is today. It's just grown and grown. More than anything, though, I love what it [the company] stands for - the Strollers, at its heart, isn't a pretentious company, it's just a group of people who like making theatre and having fun, and our charity ethos is very much a driving force behind that. The fact that raising money for charity is our motivation keeps egos at bay, and always has done, because you see what good the money does in the local community. That's the most important thing - it's why we do it.

Being in the company so long has no doubt given you some wonderful memories - what are some of your fondest moments?
There's so many - that's really hard!

We can let you have three, if it helps!
Not much, but I'll try! Going right back, one of them would be getting my first principal role, which was Sleeping Beauty in 1984, when I was 21 - it was my first principal role, it will always be special. And the first time I played a comedy role, too, which was actually Willy in our 1999 production of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, funnily enough.
But a big thing for me was seeing my children on stage and loving The Wight Strollers as much as me - that was, and still is, very special.

Turning back to directing for a moment, what's been your favourite show to direct?
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, because it was just so special. It was our first musical, and the music was fabulous and it was such a feel-good show. But if you asked me which pantomime was my favourite to direct, I would have to say Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 2008. I don't know why, I think partly because it was the first show I ever directed for the Strollers. I liked Aladdin, too, because it's always a bit different and very colourful, and it's in a different setting to most other pantos and generally has a good mix of everything.

And on stage, what's been your favourite role to play?
Carabosse [the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty]. I've played the role twice and I enjoyed it both times. She's glamorous, and the way I play it is always sarcastic, which I love...

She does tend to be one of the nastier villains, doesn't she?
She is - she's just bad, she's actually not nice to anyone.

So what was it that made each time you played her so memorable? 
The first time I did it [2004], we did a Bushtucker Trial on stage and I absolutely loved that...in fact, on the last night I ate live worms! And I loved it the second time [2013] because I got to work with my daughter, Emily, who was playing Sleeping Beauty. And I suppose I also love it in general because in my younger years I was never a fairy...but Carabosse, although she's a villain, is still a fairy so you get a lovely costume as well!

Turning now to Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, you co-wrote the script, as you also did for Cinderella - what was it that prompted the change to home-written scripts?
When you write the script, you can tailor it to the company's needs and there's more scope for finding new comic routines, new characters, and new ways of approaching the stories...and we've even built a whole scene around a song we wanted to get into the show before! A big part of it, too, is that it's cheaper, which means more money to give to our charities.

What is it about this particular version of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood that you love?
I think it's a lovely contrast to some of the more Disney-esque shows. There really is something for everyone - action, comedy, romance, all sorts, plus a wonderful mix of songs. And it's giving a lot of our members a chance at a speaking role, including two of our younger members, Madeline and Miley. It's been really nice to see their acting skills and their confidence grow and develop through the rehearsal process, and they are now absolutely ready for an audience...and they're loving every minute of it!

And finally, why should people buy tickets?
Because no-one does panto quite like The Wight Strollers! I truly believe we give professional quality entertainment at amateur prices - I know I always say it, but I really do believe it. Once you've seen a Wight Strollers show, you will definitely be back for more.

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To get your tickets for Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, being performed at Medina Theatre this February Half Term, all you have to do is phone 01983 823884, visit the Medina Theatre website, or pop over to the Box Office or 1Leisure Reception in person! See you in the audience!

The Babes in the Wood: Meeting Madeline and Miley...

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood is our 2019 pantomime, and rehearsals are going brilliantly!

Everyone has surely heard of Robin Hood - and we'll hear more about him in another post! - but who are the Babes and how do their paths cross with that of Robin?

The Babes, in this instance, are Eleanor and Edith of London, nieces to King Richard (poetic licence abounds in Panto Land!) and heirs to the throne of England.

And so it is our great pleasure to introduce to you Madeline (aged 13) and Miley (aged 8), who are taking on their first speaking roles within the company.

Madeline's first show with The Wight Strollers was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 2016 and Miley's first show was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 2014, so neither are newcomers to the company and both are going to absolutely knock your socks off!

So let's get to know them a little...

How did you feel when you were offered the part?
Madeline: Overjoyed, because I felt as if I could really become the character of Eleanor.
Miley: I was really excited and a bit nervous, but when I started rehearsing I felt really happy and I was excited to do the show. I can't wait to perform in front of a real audience.

What's your favourite bit of the pantomime to perform?

Miley: When I have to say to Willie 'it needs practice', because I can be sassy! And also the part when I get to sing with Madeline, who is a fabulous pretend sister.
Madeline: 'Hushabye Mountain' because I get to sing, and it's also a really sweet moment for me and Miley together - and I love that.

And what about your favourite scene to watch?
Madeline: The jail scene with the Merry Men. Because it's just hilarious, and it's so clever...and all of their facial expressions are amazing!
Miley:  'Are You In Or Out?' because it's very funky and I like dancing to it, and I bet everybody else will love it as much as I do!

What do you like about performing with The Wight Strollers?
Miley: I love singing and dancing and performing with the friends I have made in the Strollers. I love being on stage with my family, too, as my Mum and my sister are also in the panto.
Madeline: The Wight Strollers are like a second family - everyone is so caring, and they give so much to charity.

Why do you think theatre is such a great hobby for young people?
Madeline: You get to just be yourself. And you also get to meet and perform with lots of great and different people.
Miley: Because you get to act and find your passion whilst making friends and having fun. It's hard work at times and can be exhausting but also very exciting.

Why should people buy tickets to see Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood?

Miley: There's lots of jokes and funny bits, and you get to join in with boos and hisses. It's a show the whole family can enjoy - there's some jokes my Dad finds funny but I don't understand!
Madeline: And because the show can make you cry and laugh at the same time!
Miley: Make sure you buy your tickets or you'll miss out!

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Get your tickets to see this wonderful duo in action this February Half Term at Medina Theatre - all you have to do is phone 01983 823884 or visit the Medina Theatre website...or pop into the Box Office/1Leisure Reception in person! See you in the audience!

The Tale of Robin Hood...

He robs from the rich to give to the poor. He's an outlaw who has the heart of Maid Marian and the hatred of the Sheriff of Nottingham. He lives in Sherwood Forest with his gang of Merry Men.

But how much do we really know about Robin Hood and his Merry Men?

It's time to explore the legend, give you a few fun facts, and answer some questions you didn't even know you wanted to ask!

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Was Robin Hood a real person?
The jury is out on this one! Quite possibly, although exactly who his legend stemmed from has become muddied with time, made muddier still by the fact that many bandits, outlaws and vigilantes over the centuries adopted the name of 'Robin Hood' as an alias to keep their identities secret.

How far back can Robin Hood be traced?
The earliest known records of Robin are from the 14th Century, and mentioned with him from the get-go are the Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Much the Miller's son and Will Scarlett - Maid Marian, Alan-A-Dale and Friar Tuck, however, are nowhere to be seen!

Alright then, so when did they make an appearance?
Not until the 15th century, when Robin Hood became commonly associated with the May Day festivities and many drinking games, parties and plays were themed around him and his merry band of outlaws. Friar Tuck and Maid Marian made their entrance here, and in some regions the custom of these 'games' lasted right up until Elizabethan times, with Robin often allocated the role of May King to preside over the games and processions.

But still no Alan-A-Dale?
Believe it or not, the minstrel known as Alan-A-Dale didn't actually make his first appearance until the 17th Century, and it depends on which adaptation you're paying attention to as to whether or not he's part of the Merry Men or portrayed as more of a 'Narrator' figure, singing ballads about Robin Hood and his friends and foes.

Was Robin Hood always popular?
Unlike many legendary or historical figures, yes. Robin Hood was always popular, particularly among those who were living in poverty and - perhaps more strangely - those living at the other end of the spectrum, with great wealth.

And was he really Lord Robin of Locksley, before he was outlawed?
Historically, it's actually more likely that Robin Hood - if he existed - was a commoner himself, at least of a sort. It was actually only in 1795 when Joseph Ritson published 'Robin Hood: A collection of all the Ancient Poems Songs and Ballads now extant, relative to that celebrated Outlaw' that the most commonly accepted 'version' of Robin became more concrete. Ritson placed Robin's birth at around 1160, thus making him active in the reign of King Richard I. He also thought that Robin was of aristocratic birth, and that his original name was Robert Fitzooth...but there is a big question mark over the reliability of his sources! 


So actually, who Robin Hood really was is probably going to remain a mystery for all time...if indeed he ever existed at all!
Exactly right. We can safely say he probably existed as a person...but how true his existence was to the stories told of him, and indeed whether those stories can all be attributed to one man, is another matter entirely! Robert has always been a popular name, and in medieval England 'Robin' was by far the most common diminutive. The surname Hood was pretty common back then, too, and most commonly it referred to either a 'hooder', who was a maker of hoods, or to somebody who wore a hood. Because of this, there are a number of 'Robert Hood' and 'Robin Hood' references throughout historical records, and a good number of them are known to have fallen foul of the law on more than one occasion...it must be something about the name!

Drinking games, plays, processions, secret identities - so far, it doesn't sound much like a story for children!
It wasn't! Robin Hood actually only became a popular children's hero in the 19th Century, when authors began to adapt Joseph Ritson's tales of Robin Hood into a variety of children's novels and poems.

Followed by a whole host of films and TV series in more recent times...
And these films added yet more details to the legend we all know and love. From Walt Disney to the BBC, the production companies who have taken Robin Hood and run with him are plentiful, each with their own unique spin on the character and those around him.  But then isn't that the beauty of a legend? It can be shaped, told and retold a hundred times over, in a hundred different ways, and never lose its essence.

...And let's not forget Robin Hood in pantomime form!
Yes, and pantomimes. It's actually impossible to tell when Robin Hood first became the subject of a pantomime but, with the art itself dating back to 16th century Italy in its earliest form and reaching its traditional form by the Victorian era, it's safe to say Robin's first panto appearance could have happened at any time. Given how popular he was as a cult figure it was probably earlier rather than later!

So what about the people who have portrayed him? Exactly how many different Robins are there?
On film alone, there are numerous Robins (some better than others!), including Kevin Costner, Errol Flynn, Russell Crowe, Patrick Bergin, Sean Connery and - most recently - Taron Egerton, to name just a few. Include the Robins of television and stage and we're talking about too many for us to count or record! Each one, too, is so very different to the last - he's been cheeky, brave, romantic, moody, funny, heroic, dashing, tormented, sarcastic, sweet, and everything in between!

And as for our Robin?

Well, you'll have to buy tickets to find out...! 

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You can get your tickets for Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood by phoning 01983 823884 or by visiting the Medina Theatre website, or simply by popping up to the 1Leisure Reception in person! At just £10 for adults and £8 for Under 14s, this is one fabulous show at bargain prices that you will not want to miss!

The Sweetest Fairy Of All

We are delighted to introduce Shannon Crouch in her debut speaking role with The Wight Strollers. 

She will be appearing in our February production of Jack and the Beanstalk as Fairy Sugardust, the sweet and magical fairy who watches over the village of Old Windy Bottom and saves the day when things turn sour!

So, Shannon, how did you feel when you were asked to play Fairy Sugardust?
Nervous but also very excited!

What's been the biggest challenge so far?
All the words rhyming - if you get something wrong, it's much scarier!

And what are you most looking forward to about the show?
Everything...and the sparkly dress!

Experience tells us that everyone has their own little ways to get into their roles - how have you been getting into character?
Channeling my inner girlies and finding random kitchen utensils to be me wand - a wooden spoon wrapped in Xmas paper with a tin foil star...and now a flowery spatula! It's Cath Kidston!

Well, that's the most important thing, obviously! Let's rewind for a second, Shannon - what was your first pantomime with us?
It was Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in February 2012 - that feels like a long time ago now!

And what about before joining The Wight Strollers? Did you come to us bursting with stage experience or were you a relative newbie?
In Year 2, I was a Little Red Hen in a primary school production - but that's it! I was a newbie!

Wow! Well, you're not a newbie anymore - this is your seventh pantomime with us! Out of all the pantos you've done so far, which has been your favourite?
Ooh, that's hard! Probably Robinson Crusoe (2014)...apart from the mermaid wigs!

I have a picture of those (see right!)
Oh, good!

Blue hair suits you! So if it's not the wigs, then what is your favourite thing about being part of The Wight Strollers?
Being able to do something that I love with basically a massive group of friends.

And the big question: Why should people book tickets to Jack and the Beanstalk?
Because it's a family friendly fun show and supporting amazing Island charities

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You heard it here, from our very own Fairy Sugardust - tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk are worth every penny! And they're selling fast, so make sure you book in advance to ensure you have seats!

Tickets are available in person from the Medina Theatre Box Office (open weekdays 7am-9pm and weekends 9am-5pm) or by phone on 01983 823884 or online at www.medinatheatre.co.uk.

See you in the audience!

This year has brought with it the best of times...

Wow, what a year 2012 has been so far!

Since this is our very first post on this, our new site, it seems only right to update you on The Wight Strollers’ year so far...

February 2012:
Our panto, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, was a huge success, packing Medina Theatre full to bursting once again, and getting a wealth of positive feedback. Cast and audience alike loved it, and – most importantly – we were able to give away more money to Island charities.

Thanks must go one more time to everyone who came to see or was involved in Robin Hood and we can’t wait to see you at the next one!

April 2012:
On Thursday 26th April, we had our AGM, where it was decided that our pantomime for 2013 would be the popular classic, Sleeping Beauty. It was decided that our script would be written by Mike Sutcliffe and Sarah Scotcher, who were responsible for both Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood and the previous year’s panto, Cinderella.

We also had our annual cheque presentation of the money raised by panto, and were thrilled to welcome representatives of our chosen charities to accept the donations:

- £2,000 to John’s Club
- £1,000 to the Isle of Wight MS Society
- £600 to Revive
- £500 to the Saturday Club for the Deaf
- £200 to the 6th Newport Beavers
- £200 to the 8th Ryde Brownies


A new committee member was elected in the form of Emily Scotcher, and the director for Sleeping Beauty was voted in – well, we wanted Psychic Sue but after she proved unwilling we had to settle for Sarah Scotcher instead!

Some tea, biscuits and bingo later, we went our separate ways before the beginning of the summer season, which for us involves dressing up and dancing through the Island’s streets...


May 2012:


In May, our hugely popular Merry Men from Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were invited to perform their show-stopping rendition of The Overtones hit song, Sh-Boom, at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice Grand Charity Auction, held at the Bargeman’s Rest on Friday 18th May.

Sadly, Little John (alias Stuart Egan) was unable to make it, so ‘The Undertones’ - as they were affectionately known among the cast – recruited a stand-in...a woman, no less, in the form of Musical Director Em Scotcher. Not quite as big as Little John, she completed the line-up, joining Robin Hood (Henry Noon), Friar Tuck (Rob Jones), Alan-A-Dale (Ryan Tulloch) and Will Scarlett (Tim Smith) in what was an undeniably memorable performance!

Tim went on to finish running the auction (as if he wasn’t talented enough on stage, he’s a brilliant auctioneer to boot!) as Will Scarlett, causing much hilarity and convincing men and women alike to part with ever-increasing sums of cash for a very worthy cause. A great night was had by all, and The Wight Strollers certainly enjoyed themselves...and spent perhaps a little too much money into the bargain!

June 2012:
...Carnival time was almost upon us, and both the float and costumes were well underway for this year’s theme: trolley dollies! Under the banner of Try Me Airline, thirty-five of us would be dancing in purple pencil skirts, blazers and hats, pink scarves and blonde wigs to Michael Bublé’s Come Fly With Me, Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman and Cher’s Shoop Shoop Song.

The trolley dollies choreography, done by Sarah and tried out on Emily and Ed, was effective as ever and when you threw in the full company plus wheeled suitcases it made for a lot of laughs even in rehearsal...six-foot-four male trolley dollies are a sight to behold, whichever way you look at it, or them!

Also in June came the first of our fund-raising efforts to pay off the loan we’d had to take out after our carnival trailer broke down following last year’s carnival season. We had a lot of money to raise, and special mention must go to Judith Day for her tireless work organising a hugely successful variety show to help raise the money.

Fund-raising spread further still over the coming months, with a brilliant beetle drive organised by Sarah Occomore, and a Guess the Time the Watch Stops game arranged by Mike Squibb. In short, we made the money we needed, and carnival was good to go!

July –September 2012:
Newport Carnival kicked things off, and the crowds seemed to love this year’s offering. Seeing everyone laughing and smiling is what makes the carnivals for us, and that Try Me Airline was lucky enough to take first prize and best overall was a bonus we were thrilled with.

Our flight destinations over the carnival season included Sandown Main and Illuminated, Cowes Main, Ventnor Main and Illuminated, Ryde Main and Ryde Illuminated. By the time we landed at our final destination (Ryde Illuminated on Saturday 3rd September) we were laden with much silverware; everyone involved in the carnivals worked harder this year than ever before, and to have our hard work rewarded so generously was truly a privilege - thank-you to everyone, not only for the awards but also for the kind words that came with them. As long as everyone enjoys watching us, we’re more than happy!

And that brings us right up to now! On Thursday 6th September we held an informal get-together for this year’s panto and sang through some of the music, introduced the cast and welcomed a host of potential new members.

The script is finished, the panto is cast, the music has been chosen and this Sleeping Beauty is set for lift-off! The first rehearsal will be taking place on Thursday 27th September, so stay tuned for our next blog post, which will be coming to you shortly afterwards, on Monday 1st October, and we promise not to tell (too many) bad jokes as panto season kicks in - don’t miss it!

Thanks for reading...and don't forget to visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more Strollers news, updates and pictures.