Okehampton’s Amateur Dramatic group, The Courtenay Players, have announced that they will hold their first performance in 18 months this Christmas now covid restrictions have been removed.

For the first time since 2019, the amateur dramatics group will be performing. The group will be putting on An Evening of Christmas Music on December 16 and 17 at the Charter Hall in Okehampton in which they will play traditional Christmas carols and music.

Stan Stormont, manager of the Courtenay Players, said: ’We are pleased to be back. We’ve had things organised and had to cancel them all [because of the covid restrictions]. This is the first thing we are legally allowed to do.’

Audience members are encouraged to sing along to the carols as Mr Stormont confirmed that all the music would be familiar to everyone.

’We always encourage people to sing along though the words might not be as you remembered,’ he added. ’You know when you’re singing along to the radio and the words aren’t what you remember.’

The Courtenay Players are Okehampton’s only non-professional dramatic society and have done a wide range of productions in the past, including Oliver, the Sound of Music and an adaptation of Kenneth Grahams’ Wind in the Willows.

For more information or to find out how to book a ticket visit the Courtenay Players’ Facebook page.

Other Christmas-themed performances in the area include Postbridge’s panto from January into February which this year is Cinderella and a Christmas Ball hosted by Made-Well CIC, an farming and nursery business near Hatherleigh which provides employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

For more information or to find out how to book a ticket visit the Courtenay Players’ Facebook page.