Panto doyen Elaine C Smith and a merry band of characters brought festive cheer to sick kids facing Christmas in hospital yesterday.
The actress and her co-stars, including comedian and actor Alan McHugh, are starring in this year’s production of Beauty and the Beast at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.
But yesterday Elaine and the rest of the cast took time out from rehearsals to visit poorly youngsters at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
The panto stars toured the children’s ward yesterday in full costume – bringing smiles to the faces of the many children who may face Christmas in the hospital away from their loving families.
Elaine said: “It reminds you about what Christmas is all about.
“When we are all moaning and running about trying to get our Christmas shopping done then you come here and go ‘shut up’ – look at what some people are going through.
“And the nurses and doctors and everybody here has to do that everyday – they bring cheer, they bring happiness, they normalise this situation for parents and for kids.”
Elaine, who plays Mrs Potty and co-stars’ festive cheer and comic antics went down a treat with the ill youngsters yesterday.
However for one little girl Christmas was always going to be about one thing – princesses.
So when Maggie Lynne, who plays Belle in the production, walked in wearing a bright yellow stunning ballgown, little Ehryn Andrews’ face lit up like a Christmas tree.
The six year old, from Elgin, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a form of bone cancer – six weeks ago and has been through gruelling chemotherapy in the run up to Christmas, with an operation scheduled in the new year.
Ehryn’s dad Ross, 36, said: “It was the dress that really caught her eye. She loved seeing Belle.”
