Tony O'Boyle
Although there had been community pantomimes in Sighthill for many years beforehand, the Westenders were originally formed in 2005 in a partnership between community worker Tony O'Boyle, and husband and wife team Ronnie and Helen Cairns. It was their vision to produce a pantomime which the whole community of Broomhouse, Parkhead and Sighthill could enjoy together. This first performance, The Further Adventures of Cinderella, was written and produced by Tony. Ronnie and Tony played the Ugly Sisters, and Helen played Buttons. It was performed at Sighthill Community Centre.
Aladdin, 2006
Since the first show in 2005, the Westenders have gone from strength to strength, performing a pantomime every year. Over the years, the group has gained many long-standing cast members, who have enjoyed the buzz of being on stage so much that they can't wait to rejoin next year! Of course, this also means the cast have improved and the group has become much more professional.
Sinbad, 2010
When Sighthill Community Centre closed in 2010, the group had become so popular that it was decided to simply relocate rather than disband, and as such the 2010 pantomime, The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, was the first to be performed in St David's Church, where the stage was bigger and the audience capacity was larger. This was the first step up the amateur dramatics ladder.
As a tribute to Tony, who had passed away 2 years earlier, the 2012 pantomime was a reprisal of the original Westenders Pantomime, The Further Adventures of Cinderella, with a few minor differences. The script was updated and modernized, and a few new characters were introduced to accommodate the expanding cast.
As a tribute to Tony, who had passed away 2 years earlier, the 2012 pantomime was a reprisal of the original Westenders Pantomime, The Further Adventures of Cinderella, with a few minor differences. The script was updated and modernized, and a few new characters were introduced to accommodate the expanding cast.
Macbeth, 2015
In 2014, the group became a formally registered charity in Scotland, with the group now consisting of around 20 community members, of various ages; young and old, and of mixed ability. In 2015, for the first time since its foundation, the group performed a spring show with an adaptation of Macbeth by Geoff Bamber. This was also the first time they had used a script which had been sourced from outwith the group.
These mid-year shows, with outsourced scripts have now become a regular feature for the group, with performances of plays such as Pigs Tale by Ron Nicol (which the author actually came to see, and enjoyed so much he asked to use some of our ideas!)
However, wherever possible, the group's Christmas show, which is always the major event in the calendar, is still be written by the group, for the group. Many members of the group have risen to the challenge of writing and directing their own scripts over the years.
In 2020, we faced another major challenge as the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to all of our plans and the group was forced into an extended 2 year hiatus. However, like any of our previous challenges, we are ready to overcome and adapt, and now we are back and planning our first post-Covid show for December 2022.
We have come a long way since that first show in 2005, but our aim remains the same:
"To produce a show which can be enjoyed by and performed by the local community."
These mid-year shows, with outsourced scripts have now become a regular feature for the group, with performances of plays such as Pigs Tale by Ron Nicol (which the author actually came to see, and enjoyed so much he asked to use some of our ideas!)
However, wherever possible, the group's Christmas show, which is always the major event in the calendar, is still be written by the group, for the group. Many members of the group have risen to the challenge of writing and directing their own scripts over the years.
In 2020, we faced another major challenge as the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to all of our plans and the group was forced into an extended 2 year hiatus. However, like any of our previous challenges, we are ready to overcome and adapt, and now we are back and planning our first post-Covid show for December 2022.
We have come a long way since that first show in 2005, but our aim remains the same:
"To produce a show which can be enjoyed by and performed by the local community."
