MEET the man who has been making people laugh for 35 years.
Terry Bowden is Bolton's Mr Pantomime but when his theatre base closed down some may have thought those days were behind him.
But, oh no they are not! The curtain may have fallen on the stage at St Peter's Methodist Church AODS in Daubhill, but Terry has now been invited to move across town to continue producing his own special brand of entertainment.
He is set to produce the Trinity Players' first pantomime in the theatre company's 74-year history.
Babes In The Wood will be the Players' 121st production, and will take place from January 9 to 12 at Trinity Church Congregational Methodist hall, Market Street, Farnworth.
It will also take Terry's tally of pantomimes to 33. He has a further 60 plays and shows under his belt.
He said: "As a child I was drafted in to appear in the St Peter's pantomimes. But the first one I produced was Aladdin."
Ironically the Rev Jim Dobson appeared in that pantomime as a young boy. The minister is now based at Trinity and will play the Sheriff of Nottingham in Babes In The Wood.
When Terry, aged 59, says he is producing a pantomime, he means just that. He not only directs the performances, but creates the imaginative scenery that has always been a trademark of his shows and does the wiring. His wife, Dorothy, has also always lent a hand in producing costumes.
In fact the theatre has become a family affair. Daughter Alison Partington appears regularly on stage in Bolton, while sons Craig and Gary have helped Terry backstage.
He said: "St Peter's Methodist Church closed on September 16. As a church it could not afford to keep going. It was very sad -- like losing my arm. We knew last January that Mother Goose would be our last pantomime there.
"I am enjoying it at Trinity. I have wired the stage up -- something I did not think I would have to do again -- and the company has joined Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies. We will also be using youngsters from the area.
"There is something magical about a pantomime. They work across the generations from children through to grown ups and give great pleasure and enjoyment.
"They still have the same magical pull they did all those years ago when I first started. I could not find a better thing to do." PANTO-MAN: Terry Bowden reflects on 35 years of pantomime, including (above, left) Jack and the Beanstalk in 2000, and (below) Sing a Song of Sixpence in 1999, both produced by St Peter's (Daubhill) AODSRef: J3158/10 PANTOS PAST: Terry Bowden has been involved in numerous productions over the years including (above) Jack and the Beanstalk in 2000, and (below) Sing a Song of Sixpence in 1999, both produced by St Peter's (Daubhill) AODS
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