WHEN Aladdin rubs the magic lamp for the last time at the end of February it's sure to bring a tear to the eye of Mollie Thornton.

For Mollie will be putting away her pantomime writing pen after producing 21 of the traditional comedy plays in Glusburn.

"Aladdin will be my 21st pantomime for Glusburn and significant for the 21st century," she told the Herald.

"The choreographer Karen Harrison and myself have come to the conclusion that it is time for a change.

"We have had a wonderful time with the children and young people of Glusburn pantomime and we shall miss them so much, but we have decided that it is time to move on.

"The sad news is that we're giving up, but the good news is that we hope to make this year's show the best ever!"

Mollie, of Jacques Grove, Silsden, penned and directed her first Glusburn pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, in 1971.

Productions also followed in 1974 and then 1981.

Karen joined as choreographer in 1983 for Goody Two Shoes.

Hundreds of local people have trodden the boards in the productions and have grown up through the ranks from tiny tots chorus to take leading roles.

"Some have become personal friends and I have been to weddings, parties, christenings and even become a godmother," said Mollie.

"Glusburn pantomime has been my hobby and teaching children stagecraft and acting has been a wonderful pleasure."

Humpty Dumpty will go down as Mollie's favourite panto, simply because it went without a hitch, followed by excellent reviews.

"We just had a super team - it was a wonderful show and it went down a bomb," she said.

The cast members for her final production of Aladdin, co-written with Don McKeown, are all local children between the ages of four and 16.

Two members who began in the tiny tots section are taking the principal roles this year.

Aladdin will be played by Rebecca Harrison, 10, who started at the tender age of two in Puss in Boots.

She was the panto's youngest ever actor to take part in its famous flying sequence at three years old.

Kevin McKeown, 15, plays Abanazer. His first panto was as a four-year-old in Babes in the Wood.

He worked his way up through the ranks and is remembered as an ugly sister in last year's production.

Aladdin takes place at Glusburn Institute from 7pm on February 16, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24.

There are also matinee performances at 2.30pm on February 17 and 24.

Tickets start at £4 for adults and £3 for children and OAPs and are available from Gibson's, Main Street, Cross Hills.