Diary by the dame in Beauty and the Beast

"It's been very busy and we're now in the last week of the run with back-to-back shows"

By Martin Ballard
BBC Leicester

BBC Leicester's resident dame, Martin Ballard, stars in Loughborough Town Hall's latest Christmas pantomime as the hilarious Dame Dorothy Doo-it.

Follow Martin's weekly diary below, as the dame in the fairytale Beauty and the Beast and get the behind the scenes gossip.

You can catch up with Martin's previous diary entries in our Dame Doo-itt's diary archive

WEEK SIX

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year break and you haven't over-indulged!

It has been a very busy time at Loughborough Town Hall and we are now in the last week of the run, with back-to-back shows and some very enthusiastic audiences.

They have given us some very good feedback through the box office and front of house staff.

I've worked with many young performers who have gone on to have successful careers on the stage Martin ballard aka Dame Dorothy Doo-it

Tickets are already on sale for next year's show (Cinderella) and a large number of people have come out of our performances and gone straight to the box office to book tickets - some have even chosen exactly the same seats on the same day next year.

I must make mention of the three talented groups of young local dancers who have been playing their part in the success of the show. They auditioned from all over Leicestershire and have enjoyed every minute of their time on the show.

I'm sure they'd all like to be in every show, but can only be licensed for a certain number of performances.

Over the years, I've worked with many young performers who have gone on to have successful careers on the stage including one who is currently on Broadway.

So, well done kids and if theatre is the career you choose, I wish you every success in the future.

Beauty & the Beast fans

As we approach the last of our shows, we have been reflecting on all the things we have done in a short period of time.

We've had visits from lots of other actors, directors and producers from across the country, local celebrities including the Loughborough MP, Andy Reed and had the opportunity of meeting lots of fun-loving and inspirational local people.

One of those was the beautiful girl I mentioned in a previous diary entry.

I can't imagine what they have been through as a family and I wish them all the very best with Bella's treatment and their fund-raising Martin Ballard, Presenter/Actor

Isabella Flint was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour called a Medullablastoma on the 11th October 2009 at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

From there she was taken by ambulance to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, where they removed the tumour in an eight-hour operation. She has almost completed a long course of radiotherapy and then faces a year of chemotherapy. 

Her parents have set up a charitable trust fund to allow them and their family and friends to give something back to those who have helped Bella and to save some money for her future development.

At the moment, they are buying 10 new television's and dvd players for the ward where Bella was treated, which will make a big difference to other families who may spend months living in hospital.

They will soon have a website up and running and have organised a black-tie ball with a three-course meal, live music, an auction and raffle at 'The City Rooms' in Leicester. This will be on Bella's 5th birthday - 23 February 2010.

I can't imagine what they have been through as a family and I wish them all the very best with Bella's treatment and their fund-raising.

Having a fantastic time

We've also had a lot of fun at various events from the Loughborough Lights switch-on to the Santa Fun Run.

As well as this diary, I've also done some interviews and features for BBC Radio Leicester and East Midlands Today as well as a number of photo-calls for the local newspapers.

In other words, it's been hectic but even though it's not Cinderella, we've had a ball.

I've had another fantastic time with some very talented, hard-working and committed teams of people Martin Ballard, BBC Leicester

This will be the last Dame's Diary before I take off my frock and return to BBC Radio Leicester, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy New Year.

I've had another fantastic time with some very talented, hard-working and committed teams of people.

If you came to see the show, I hope you had as much fun watching as we did putting the show together. Thanks for your support.

Catch up with Martin's previous diary entries in our Dame Doo-itt's diary archive

Beauty and the Beast is on at Loughborough Town Hall until 10 January 2010. Tickets are available from the box office on 01509 231914.