Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates, by Alan P Frayn, will mark the start of Kennington Amateur Dramatic Society’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Kennington Amateur Dramatic Society (KADS) set sail on a fantastic journey in their annual pantomime with a Brazilian flavour, bringing their own kind of feelgood fun to a chilly winter’s weekend in Oxfordshire.

This promises to be a tropical, swashbuckling tale from a brilliant cast, with great songs from the house band to get the audience singing along. Add to this the wonderfully colourful costumes, make-up and scenery from the talented creative team, and you know you’re in for a treat!

The group, made up of amateur theatre enthusiasts, was formed in 1979 at the village hall in Kennington, and regularly performs pantomimes and musical shows for the local community. Members come from across Oxfordshire, some from families with several generations performing on stage together. Many hours are spent not just rehearsing, but with a dedicated support team who give up their free time painting scenery, putting together the songs and music, designing and sewing the many costumes, choreographing the dance routines, and all the other work behind the scenes that goes in to making the show a success.

As a community-minded group, they support local charities, and are currently raising funds for Ronald McDonald House Oxford. The charity provides a home-from-home service for parents and families of children being treated at the Children’s Hospital, and is an invaluable provision at a critical time. Ronald McDonald House is a cause close to members’ hearts, after a family within the group had received invaluable support from the charity when their son had received extensive care at both Oxford and Birmingham children’s hospitals.

The show opens at Kennington Village Centre on Friday, 25th January (7.30pm), then Sat 26th (2pm and 7.30pm), Sun 27th (12pm and 4pm), Thu 31st (7.30pm), Fri 1st February (7.30pm) and Sat 2nd (2pm and 7.30pm). Tickets are £10 adults, £8 concessions and £30 for a family of four, and are available by phone on 01865 739025 or by email at [email protected]