A different society is taking the reins for this year's Strode Theatre pantomime in Street.

For the first time, Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society will be producing Strode's Christmas show in a new venture which sees the society working alongside the theatre in its first profit-share performance.

The theatre team will be working with Barry Squance who is making a comeback to pantomime as director while the award-winning Tom Billing is also returning to the role of musical director.

Sarah Acreman, who can usually be seen on stage, will be making her choreographing debut with the society.

Director Mr Squance said: "I was thrilled at the invitation to direct this year's Strode Theatre pantomime, Dick Whittington.

"I have always loved pantomime, its ability to nurture the very young, some of who may never have been in a theatre, while giving the whole family superb Christmas entertainment is priceless."

Strode Theatre, like all arts organisations, is fully aware that the next few years will be particularly challenging and that local authority funding, which is non-statutory, could be reduced from April 2011.

With a remit to increase earned income and to find new ways of making the theatre's operation more sustainable in the long term, the Theatre Board of Management asked each of the theatre user groups to suggest new ways of working.

Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society offered to produce the first pantomime on a profit-share basis which was gratefully received.

Theatre manager Liz Leyshon said: "We wish to assure our audiences that we are continuing to do our very best to maintain both the variety and quality of programme and this new pantomime will help us achieve that aim while welcoming audiences of all ages for the fun of traditional pantomime."

Recently Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society has received two awards from NODA South West for their 2010 production of Beauty and the Beast.

The awards were for Best Musical and the Regional Award for excellence. NODA South West covers from Cornwall in the west to Hampshire in the east and Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in the north.

The awards were presented by NODA President Margaret Coltman at the South West annual meeting which was held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Taunton.

The awards were collected by Marie Salter, the society's chairman.

Booking for the pantomime opens on August 18.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with the production can go along to the workshops being held prior to the auditions.

For adults and children aged 15 and over the workshops are on August 31 and September 2, both at 7.30pm in Strode Theatre rehearsal room.

Juniors, aged seven to 15 a workshop and audition is to be held on September 12 at 10am, also in the theatre rehearsal room.

For more information see the theatre website: www.stro detheatre.co.uk or phone Strode Theatre ticket line on 01458 442846.

Alternatively go to the Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society's website: www.gsmcs.org.