RICHARD PARR The make-believe horse has long been an integral part of the pantomime fantasy but next weekend audiences will get a real kick out of the seasonal drama.

RICHARD PARR

The make-believe horse has long been an integral part of the pantomime fantasy but next weekend audiences will get a real kick out of the seasonal drama.

What is believed to be the region's first pantomime on horseback is about to take to the stage or, to be more accurate, the indoor arena.

Aladdin is being presented with a cast of a dozen horses and ponies and about 50 youngsters and adults by the Kensington Lodge Farm Equestrian Training Centre based at Mattishall, near Dereham.

And according to the Centre's proprietor Tigga Gough, the panto promises to be a novel spectacular.

Months of rehearsal for the two-legged and four-legged cast will come to fruition on Sunday when the 90-minute performances will be given at 1.30pm and 5pm, and there has been a heavy demand for tickets. A third performance will be held on Monday evening.

Ms Gough said the idea for the panto emerged following completion of the centre's impressive new indoor arena and it was thought that a pantomime would be fun and a pantomime on horseback even better.

So she teamed up with her good friend, Nichola West, principal of Dereham's Busy Bodies Stage School, who stepped in to help with choreography and costumes.

Ms Gough said: "We have been so lucky because all the horses have been fantastic and they have responded so well to our instructions.

"We have adapted the Disney version of Aladdin to do some of it on horseback such as riding into the market place and the guards are on horses and it should be quite a spectacular."

She pointed out that because Kensington Lodge was a training school for young riders the horses had to be well behaved and follow instructions given to them.

She believes the pantomime on horseback is the first of its kind to be staged in the region.

The title role is being played by a 13-year-old horse called Hercules who is 17 hands high and an Irish draft breed. Hercules will be riden by Kim Marshall as Aladdin.

Yazi Gough plays Princess Jasmine and her horse is Mackinley, a seven-year-old Connemara cross thoroughbred.

Tigga Gough said people watching the show inside the arena were advised to dress in warm clothing and take a hot drink in a flask.

For details and to book tickets, call the box office on 01362 850685.