A GENEROUS Barnsley man has bought all the tickets for the closing performance of a local pantomime so he can take work colleagues and their families to the show.

Gary Jones enjoyed the Trinity Players’ panto so much last year that when it comes around again in January he’s organised a private showing for 100 people.

The 55-year-old, of Greenfoot Lane, Barnsley, will be taking work colleagues and their families to the show, which this year is Cinderella.

Gary said: “Last year I won two tickets to the performance at a harvest festival and ended up buying another four tickets to take the grandkids and we were laughing from start to finish. It was an amateur show and all the little mistakes added to it. It was really funny.

“I recognised a couple of the guys running it that go into my local pub and when I saw them in the pub again I started talking to them and said how much we enjoyed it.”

Gary, who is an operations manager for Carmel UK in Chesterfield, said he thought it would be a nice idea to take his work colleagues and their families.

He said: “We always have a Christmas bash and always go for a meal and drinks and do not normally get partners involved and I thought it would be an opportunity to say thank you to our wives and girlfriends for putting up with us.

“I asked the theatre group how much it would be to have the hall and we agreed a cost and they’re going to put the last show on for us.

“We’re looking to take 100 people and with it being the last performance we’re going to order some pizzas and pie and peas at the Grey Horse.”

Bob Willerton, from the Trinity Players, said members are delighted Gary and his family enjoyed the last pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, and were only too pleased to put on an additional performance of Cinderella exclusively for his party on January 21.

He said: “We’ve had some unexpected problems this year not least of which was our production supremo, Neil Barham, being hospitalised following what’s believed to have been a slight stroke.

“But both the production crew and cast of 11 adults and 25 children rallied round magnificently and we’re now confident of presenting a family show featuring new innovations alongside old favourites.”

The show is being staged at Trinity Hall, Crookes Street, Barnsley, at 7pm with public performances on Fridays January 12 and 19, 2pm and 6pm and on Saturdays January 13 and 20, and again at 2pm on Sunday January 14. Tickets are available by calling 07510 967772 or online at TrinityPlayersBarnsley.com