If you go down to the woods today, there might be a big surprise. Especially if the woods are anywhere near Ramsey.

The northern-based community theatre group Cloideryn are to perform their own particular version of the classic fairy tale ’Little Red Riding Hood’ over the next two weekends.

The show features a cast of Cloideryn regulars, and stars 14-year-old Lexi Forbes in the lead role as the be-cloaked damsel in distress, who is trying to make her way through the woods.

She is joined along the way by a whole host of fairy tale characters, from the three little pigs, the White Rabbit, Goldilocks and the three bears, a wicked witch, a band of fairies, Alice in Wonderland and many more, as they battle the subtly-named evil landlord, Dan Dera, who is trying to evict them all from their fairy tale homes.

Cloideryn producer Heather Ruffino is the Red’s gambling addicted, potty grandmother, and another familiar face, Chris Lowden, the vicar of St Paul’s Church will once again don the oversized frock and wig to play the traditional panto dame, Scruly Trumptious.

The play is directed by Carol Frazer, who is directing her fourth Cloideryn production, and she also appears with Rhys Yardley as the two big, but not-so-bad wolves, Lucy and Lupe.

Heather said that this is the company’s most ambitious production to date.

’Our group has grown so much over the past year, with new members wanting to join and take part, that we have ended up with a cast of more than 30 people’, she said.

’As we do with Cloideryn, we want to make sure that everybody is included and given a role somewhere in the play.

’When we decided to do Little Red Riding Hood, we thought that the original story just wasn’t long enough to make a long pantomime out of.

’But with a bit of thought and Carol’s inventive imagination, we somehow came up with this play.

’It has been so much fun to put together. Everybody has really worked so hard to make it happen, and I am thrilled to bits with it

’But I think the only way I can describe it is "absolutely bonkers".’

The winter pantomime opens on Saturday, March 2 at St Paul’s Hall, Ramsey, with a matinee show at 2, followed by an evening show at 7pm, with a further matinee on Sunday, March 3, again at 2pm.

The run of shows will resume over the next weekend, with an evening performance on Friday. March 8, from 7pm and two concerts on the following Saturday, with a matinee from 2pm and a final evening show from 7pm.

Tickets are £10 each for adults , with concessions £8, along with family tickets for £30, available from the Ramsey Library, the Court Cafe, St Paul’s Craft Shop or by phoning Heather on 437904.

by Mike Wade

twitter:@iomnewspapers