Lytham’s Pig looks set to bring home the bacon

Babe the Sheep-Pig arrives on Sunday and advance bookings for the Bank Holiday afternoon performance are at a record-high.

With the three previous Lytham Hall shows all big hits – Pride and Prejudice, As You Like It and The Mikado – it will mean one of the best ever summers at the Hall.

“I am very pleased with how the season has gone,” said theatre organiser Julian Wilde.

“We have had everything at the Hall this summer, from Pride and Prejudice in a non-stop deluge, to a female Mikado, not to mention Andy Murray’s tennis win being the prologue for Shakespeare (the Wimbledon final finishing moments before As You Like It began).

“I think Babe will be one of the best shows yet and will complement all the other attractions, such as Russell Watson and Rita Ora at the Proms. It has been a very successful summer for Lytham.”

Babe, written by popular children’s author Dick King-Smith, has been doing great business wherever it has toured.

Artistic director Oliver Gray feels his cast of six will be on top form as they come to Lytham Hall towards the end of a marathon run, which started in Exeter in mid-May and has consisted of 86 performances in 120 days.

“The cast love the setting and the acoustics at Lytham Hall and always find that the audience is one of the most responsive on the tour,” he said.

“Babe is full of some delightful characters and brilliant costumes and that makes the performance all the more appealing to the children watching. We have had very large and enthusiastic audiences wherever we have played.“

Tickets can be purchased at the gates, which will be open from 2pm (noon for picnickers).

The show starts at 4pm, finishes at 6, and the audience should bring their own folding chairs or rugs and warm clothing. For advance bookings go to www.illyria.uk.com

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