OH no, it wasn’t the best start to a special anniversary pantomime at Chard Guildhall on Friday night ... with the audience walking out.

But the quality of the performance wasn’t to blame ... everyone had to be evacuated after the panto pyrotechnics set the smoke alarms off!

Members of Chard Amateur Theatre Society (CATS) were staging Beauty and the Beast when during the opening scenes Enchantress of the White Rose Jenny Kenton appeared in a puff of smoke – setting off the alarms.

The audience, including Guides, Brownies and local dignitaries, evacuated the Guildhall and assembled in the car park.

Like a ship’s captain, town mayor Cllr Cathie Morrison was last to leave the building after checking everyone had safely exited.

Then once the situation was deemed safe, the audience returned to their seats and the production re-started, with CATS determined to ensure people enjoyed the 50th anniversary of pantomime in Chard in the 60th year of the group.

The mayor told the News: “At least we proved that the alarm works and that an evacuation can be done quickly and safely!

“Everybody got back in and enjoyed the show – I had a lot of positive comments from my guests and it was good to see a full house.

“It is amazing that a group like CATS has been going in Chard for so long – and it is a credit to them all. Let’s hope they can do another 60 years!”

Producer and director Lorraine Marshall added: “We have had really good audiences this year – even on the Thursday night! People have been saying it is the best one we have done for years!”

o FOR a review of Beauty and the Beast pick up a copy of this week's News.