IT was snow joke for the cast of Aladdin as they battled their way to Oldbury Rep’s Barlow Theatre through blizzard conditions to ensure the show could go on.

In true thespian style the full cast made it in and the panto enjoyed a rip roaring success - with most of the audience also taking their seats for snow-hit performances on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Chairman Doreen Bastable, who wrote the panto, praised theatre-goers and actors for refusing to be beaten by the arctic conditions and was amazed there was even a waiting list for cancellations for the final Saturday evening show.

“The cast got their way in one way or another, walking, by train and taxi, from quite a distance including Kinver, Stourbridge, Hall Green and Birmingham.

“I’d like to thank them and the audience that came.”

She said the sell-out panto, which opened on Friday January 11 had been “very successful.”

A collection during the run raised £800 for this year’s chosen charity Parkinson’s UK.