Artist Charlotte, nine, meets cast of Poole panto (From Bournemouth Echo)

Artist Charlotte, nine, meets cast of Poole panto

2:00pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in News By Diana Henderson

Talented young artist Charlotte Tonks met the cast of Poole panto Aladdin after winning a colouring competition.

The nine-year-old was among nearly 50 under-16s who entered a competition to colour in a comic strip and her careful and colourful artwork was chosen by actor Ray Quinn, who stars as Aladdin at Lighthouse.

In December local youngsters were urged to show off their skills in a competition run by BUMP! Repairs near Tower Park in which the BUMP! Master of Mishap superhero repairs damage to Santa’s sleigh after he bumps into a tree on Christmas Eve.

As the winner, Charlotte received a family ticket to see the popular panto plus a signed programme and a chance to meet the cast, while runner-up Thomas Miller, 11, also won a family ticket to see the show.

Ray, an X Factor finalist in 2006 and winner of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2009 said: “It was the most colourful, inventive and neatest of all the entries. It was a clear winner – well done.”

Aladdin is Lighthouse’s third home produced panto which also stars Don Maclean, from the hit 1970s BBC children’s show Crackerjack and American actor Tim Flavin, who has won numerous awards for his work in hit musicals on Broadway and in the West End.

Stars of the fun-packed panto will take their final bows tomorrow, but not before delighting five families from children’s hospice Julia’s House to one of the last performances.

“Lighthouse is very focused on its community engagement role, which goes from strength to strength each year,said communications officer Paul Tucker.

“So we are delighted that Julia’s House have accepted our invitation to bring families along to see the panto and start 2013 with some silly fun.”