AELRED'S Players celebrate 30 years of pantomime in York next week, and Michael and Norma Addison have been involved in every one of them.

"Back then it was called the St Aelred's Pantomime Group, and we performed it at the same place we still do, St Aelred's School, though it was then St Margaret Clitherow, " Michael recalls.

"The first show was Little Bo Peep in 1977; I was in the chorus and Mike held the scenery up, " says Norma.

"I remember we had very little scenery, a tree propped up by Mike and Len Barker, so it was a very basic pantomime.

"We sang Zippadeedoodah, and it was one of the first things we did in rehearsal and I always thought I would never sing on stage, but that was the start."

Norma and Michael, who live in Burnhome, have contributed to every St Aelred's pantomime since then, she on stage, he on the technical side, doing the lighting.

"The group began through word of mouth. At that time it was purely a parish show and involved only people in the parish, though that's changed and it's now more community based with a good mixture of people, " says Michael.

"Bill and Rita Thom started it up; they've both passed away now - Bill died only last year in his 90s.

Mrs Thom just spoke to one or two people and the group began."

Stalwart publicist Terry Larkman chips in at this point. "She was the sort of character where if she ordered, you would be involved! I just turned up to drop my daughter off, asked what time I should collect her, and Mrs Thom said, 'Oh no, here's your part'."

Norma will be playing the Giant's Housekeeper in Jack And The Beanstalk next week. "I've always enjoyed being on stage, the company, the camaraderie, " she says.

"Initially, I was in the background but then, only because they couldn't get men to do it, I've played the dame four or five times.

"I'm a traditionalist, so I always feel the dame should be a man's role but when no one came forward, someone said, 'Will you do it?' and I thought, 'Well, yes, all right', so I did it in Aladdin, Humpty Dumpty, Dick Whittington and Sing A Song Of Sixpence."

Norma has played all manner of panto roles. "My favourite was Mother Goose, when I had a lovely big cloak with all that down. I've done ladies-in-waiting, Fairy Godmother, the comic double act, but I've never been the villain, and that's something I would like to have done? and I'm still waiting to play principal boy or girl!" she says.

Norma has also produced and directed the St Aelred's show several times, including The Grand Old Duke Of York in 1992, while Michael continues to handle the lighting, joins Norma in the company's summer revues and has served his time as chairman, too.

Their daughter, Kathryn, performed in the shows from the age of eight to 18, did the choreography and directed the panto a couple of times, and the Addisons will continue to participate.

"Somebody at some stage will have to take over the lighting, but memory isn't quite as important with lighting as it is with acting, " Michael says.

"It's learning the lines now that's getting a bit more difficult, " says Norma. "But I would miss it. I just love pantomime and always have.

It's the fun of it and it's the fairytale."

"It gives you a good community feeling, " says Michael. "People come out of that school hall with a smile on their face, and the audience have a part to play in the show just as much as the actors, especially the children. Everyone enjoys it; it's hard work doing the show but it's very rewarding."

St Aelred's Players present Jack And The Beanstalk, St Aelred's School, Fifth Avenue, York, Thursday and Friday, 7.30pm, next Saturday, 2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets: £5, concessions £3, from Lynn Horsley on 01904 415836.