Pantomime set to survive wrangle

The Aladdin production involves many local children

A wrangle which threatened to bring the curtain down on a children's pantomime looks set to be resolved.

Aberdeen City Council had warned the organisers of Aladdin at the village hall in Culter that they did not have a theatre licence.

The show is due to open next Wednesday, and there were fears it could be halted if the council called in the police.

After talks with police, the council said if the hall passed a fire service check on Monday the show could proceed.

The village hall has hosted the annual pantomime since 1992.

If the premises are not found to be safe we have no option but to cancel the show. Public safety comes first Susan Chappell-Smith Culter village hall committee

Culter village hall committee president Susan Chappell-Smith told the BBC Scotland News website: "The fire brigade will inspect the premises for safety on Monday, and if they are happy the show can go on.

"We will have to apply for a theatre licence in the future as the public entertainments licence is no longer valid.

"We expect the premises to be passed, but of course I can't guarantee it. If the premises are not found to be safe we have no option but to cancel the show. Public safety comes first."

Ms Chappell-Smith had earlier described the initial threat over the theatre licence as a "bombshell", and pointed out there had been no problems with safety issues in previous years.

The first people to see Aladdin at Culter village hall will be OAPs

A council spokesman initially said they had sympathy but explained: "There is a minimum 14-day notice period for application for a theatre licence, which is laid down by statute and cannot be waived."

However, he later said that if there were no issues as a result of Monday's fire service inspection the show could go ahead.

Supt Adrian Watson, of Grampian Police, said: "It is not the intention of Grampian Police to spoil the enjoyment of those taking part in the children's pantomime or its intended audience and the force hopes that common sense will prevail over this issue.

"We are aware that discussions have been ongoing between the show organisers and the local authority and we are now actively working with them to help them reach a compromise and resolve this to everyone's satisfaction.

"Grampian Police were not aware of this issue until this morning and have been in talks with the local authority to clarify the situation."