Ref. 28407-24The show must go on for Shrivenham Amateur Dramatic Society's production of Cinderella despite a bust-up with the nearby Royal Military College of Science over stage lights.

For the past two years the college, which has its own dramatic society, has lent its theatre lights for the village pantomime.

But this year it refused to do so, claiming it would lose its charitable status of it loaned the equipment.

The snub put the production, due to take place next month, in doubt.

But, at the 11th hour, it was decided to hire a set of stage lights from a company in Henley-on-Thames.

The lights cost nearly £300 about one night's door takings. The bill will not be paid until after the performances on January 1, 2 and 3.

Shrivenham Amateur Dramatic Society chairman, David Pratt, said: "We asked if we could borrow the lights in September and we couldn't see it being a problem, but someone called recently to say we couldn't have them.

"We were told the lights could not be lent because the college would have to take out another insurance policy and it would jeopardise their dramatic society's charitable status. At the time I was furious.

"There was a very real threat the show would not go ahead, but in the best tradition of pantomimes the show must go on."

This is only the society's second pantomime and features many familiar faces from in and around the village.

There are only a handful of tickets left.

In an e-mail to Mr Pratt, Lt Col Eric Happe, of the Royal Military College said: "As a former member of the dramatic society you will be aware that the lights you wanted to borrow are privately owned.

"The fact is that the lights should never have been removed from the theatre in the past and should certainly not have been taken off the site. This was in contravention of the society's constitution."