Alternative Medicine are back

The Alternative Medicine Theatre, which was formed back in 1985, was then based at the old Waveney Hospital site and the members were mostly health service staff.

Every December they staged a week-long pantomime run with the proceeds donated to numerous hospital departments and community projects and charities.

Some of the original members from 1985 are still with the theatre company and still treading the boards.

The Alternative Medicine Theatre provides amateur dramatics by recruiting local adults and children to participate in a locally produced pantomime. It gives the children participating in the shows the opportunity to develop their skills in Drama. These skills are especially important for those who choose Drama as a GCSE or A Level subject.

Many of their former cast and crew members have continued their studies to University level and beyond. Some have progressed even further afield and are now working for professional theatre companies in London’s West End and even in Broadway.

One of the main aims of the Alternative Medicine Theatre - which is non profit making - is to provide and stage a pantomime with low admission prices, to enable all the citizens of the Borough of Ballymena to have the opportunity to see a first class show, provided by local talent. The tickets for the shows remain at £5 for adults and £4 for children and senior citizens.

All the proceeds from ticket sales are donated to local groups and charities. This year the selected charity is the Antrim and Ballymena branch of the “Alzheimers and Dementia Society”. A donation is also going to the Ballymena “Home Start Care Team”.

Rehearsals are well underway and tickets will be on sale from the Braid Arts Centre Box Office in due course. If you are interested in bringing a youth group or other group please contact Heather McComish on 07771610101.