Waterlooville care home staff write and star in their own Christmas pantomime to entertain residents

EACH year care home residents are treated to a professional Christmas pantomime to end the year but this year staff have stepped in to put on a performance – oh yes they have.
By Millie Salkeld
Published 15th Dec 2020, 11:59 BST
Updated 15th Dec 2020, 16:08 BST
(l-r) Breda O’Doherty ( Senior Activities Co-ordinator), Emma Turvey (Health Care Assistant), Layla Burnett Health Care Assistant) and Helen Dunning (Home Admissions Advisor)(l-r) Breda O’Doherty ( Senior Activities Co-ordinator), Emma Turvey (Health Care Assistant), Layla Burnett Health Care Assistant) and Helen Dunning (Home Admissions Advisor)
(l-r) Breda O’Doherty ( Senior Activities Co-ordinator), Emma Turvey (Health Care Assistant), Layla Burnett Health Care Assistant) and Helen Dunning (Home Admissions Advisor)

Staff at Wellington Vale in Waterlooville have written, starred in and produced an online 35-minute musical for their residents and other care homes and support groups to enjoy due to Covid-19 visit restrictions.

Activity co-ordinator Breda O’Doherty wrote the pantomime, Lost in Koz, which tells the tale of a young girl called Doris who is looking for her missing sister, Dorothy and features a fairy godmother, magic gloves and an evil witch.

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Brenda also included fan favourites such as I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles and My Way, and it concludes with a festive 10-minute sing-along to Christmas carols.

Sabrina Webber, Wellington Vale receptionistSabrina Webber, Wellington Vale receptionist
Sabrina Webber, Wellington Vale receptionist
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She said: ‘We invite a professional company to perform a panto every year and this is a real highlight for our residents. We weren’t going to let the restrictions of Covid-19 put a stop to this year’s show so I decided to write a panto, featuring songs which I know that our residents enjoy singing along to.

‘The whole team were fully supportive, as always, with many of them taking on acting roles in the panto and we even involved of some of our residents in a sing-along at the end. It may not be the professional show that our residents are used to but it will certainly bring Christmas cheer and entertainment.’

The pantomime will be screened at Wellington Vale on Christmas Eve and watched by residents in the care home’s in-house cinema and on large screens in the lounge areas.

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General manager Gaynor Rhead added: ‘Christmas always involves great festivities and I am so proud of Breda and the team for ensuring that our residents don’t miss out on their annual panto this year.

‘The cast of carers came in on their day off to film the panto and all wore masks to adhere to the most stringent Covid-19 infection prevention methods. The panto is yet another great example of how our team have gone above and beyond in this very challenging year.’

To view the full video visit cinnamoncc.com/care-homes/wellington-vale/

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Related topics:WaterloovilleCovid-19Portsmouth

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