IT’S been 28 years coming and 18 months in the making and the Forest Musical Society’s first-ever panto was a huge hit with audiences.

Such was the anticipation for Cinderella that would-be panto-goers had to be turned away from the door at Lydney Town Hall for the Saturday matinee.

Those who got a ticket were treated to a traditional family show with all the elements which make up the pantomime.

Pantos can be difficult to pull off well but the Forest Musical Society achieved it spectacularly over four performances last week.

Grace Follows took the title role with Caroline Foligno as the evil Lady Hard-up, Frankie D’amato as Buttons, Lily Eve Shilston as Prince Charming and Lucy Mackean as Baron Hardup.

But, as always with this show, it is the Ugly Sisters who barge their way to centre stage and so it was in this case with Jordan Wild as Hanya and David Williams as Espie.

Their outrageous behaviour included firing water pistols at the audience and dragging unsuspecting men onto the stage.

The principals were supported by a talented cast of local singers and dancers. There was a wide range music played live by a talented group of musicians under musical director Joey Prescott.

The Forest Musical Society has performed many different shows since it formed in 1992 but, despite requests, has never ventured

into panto.

Spokesman Elliott Burge said: “We considered it last January but felt that we were not quite ready at that time but James Gough, the director, has been working on this project for about the last 18 months and we, as a society, decided to take the plunge in January 2019.

Chairman Michael Foligno added: “Discussions are already underway for next year’s panto.

The society is gearing up for a busy 2019 with two main shows and additional concerts including Bring Me Sunshine, a fund-raiser for Cancer Research, with the Forest of Dean Male Voice Choir and the Springfield Singers on Friday, April 12. For more information visit www.forestmusicalsociety.orgag.uk