Whitehaven: Emmaus House care home stages Christmas panto

Emmaus House care home treated residents to a performance of Cinderella <i>(Image: Emmaus House)</i>
Emmaus House care home treated residents to a performance of Cinderella (Image: Emmaus House)
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Staff at a Whitehaven care home put on a pantomime for their residents.

Emmaus House care home treated residents to a performance of Cinderella, staged by staff in colourful costumes and full pantomime spirit.

The homemade panto, held on Tuesday night, has become an annual highlight at the 26-bed care home, which is run by Pilgrims’ Friend Society and located in Moresby Parks.

Julie Crawford, care manager at Emmaus House, said: "We do this every year for our residents because they enjoy it so much – they look forward to it.

The homemade panto has become an annual highlight at the 26-bed care home (Image: Emmaus House)

"Many of them will have enjoyed going to the panto in the past.

"Now we bring all the magic of panto to them."

Senior carer Kim White took on the title role of Cinderella, while care assistant Cheryl Fletcher won hearts as Prince Charming.

Cook Diane Cruden cast a spell as the Fairy Godmother and activities coordinator Leanne Parr teamed up with senior carer Judith Ditchburn as the comically quarrelsome Ugly Sisters.

Ms Crawford was almost unrecognisable in a short black wig as Buttons.

Residents enjoying the performance (Image: Emmaus House)

Some of the biggest laughs of the night came courtesy of Cook Carol Minto, playing Dandini, whose improvised dance moves kept the audience entertained during the costume changes.

Among those in the crowd was Harry, 89, whose wife Edith, 85, is a resident at the care home.

He said: "It was brilliant, full of laughs. I liked the costumes.

"The fact that the staff can do this is wonderful."

Ms Crawford said the pantomime tradition boosts morale for residents and staff alike.

She said: "We’re like a big family at Emmaus House.

"The team enjoy doing it, we all pull together and have a good laugh."

Emmaus House has been managed by Christian charity Pilgrims’ Friend Society since 2023.

It was originally set up by the Cumbria Emmaus Trust in 1992.

Founded in 1807, Pilgrims’ Friend Society operates 12 residential care homes and nine retirement housing schemes across the UK.

The charity works alongside churches with the aim of equipping them to work in the community with older people.

For further information on Emmaus House, go to www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/emmaus-house-whitehaven


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