The show must go on

Nursery worker Sian Davies, 18, of Windsor Drive, Wigginton, will play the principal male - Peter Pumpkin-eater - in the Rowntree Players' production of Jack and Jill in York.

She will take to the stage despite the effects of a an illness which led to her having a major operation.

And though she should have had another operation last month she put it off - because it would have meant her missing rehearsals.

The former Easingwold School pupil was so ill with ulcerative colitis, or inflammation of the colon, that she had to have her large intestine removed.

Because the planned date of an operation last month clashed with the first night of pantomime rehearsals, the actress asked for it to be postponed until early next year - a request agreed to by her surgeon.

Sian said: "If the operation had all gone to plan I could have still done the panto, but I would have missed the first few weeks of rehearsals, which are really important.

"There was also a risk that I could have had problems after the operation and I didn't want it to set me back at all.

"This panto was too good an opportunity to miss."

Sian is also a member of the Flying Ducks theatre group and has had walk-on parts in television programmes such as Emmerdale, Heartbeat and At Home With The Braithwaites.

Pantomime director Eileen Lavender said: "This is somebody that's really keen to get her tights on, play principal male and slap her thigh. I'm sure her family will be proud of her."

For tickets to the pantomime, at The Joseph Rowntree Theatre from December 10 to 14, phone 01904 438518 or 01904 623568.

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, November 23, 2002