Christmas show saved.

A TYNESIDE theatre group has decided the show must go on, despite losing its director and a male lead.

The loss of award-winning writer and director Bernie Byrnes and young star Callum Swan has left Arena North in potential difficulties. But there is no question of the production of A Night Before Christmas being cancelled and producer Sheila Walker says that, with the support of the cast, she is confident that everything will be all right on the night.

Bernie was the understudy for the principal boy role of Dick Whittington in a professional pantomime in the Cambridgeshire area. Now the lead has dropped out, she has had to step in. Callum Swan, 14, of Heaton, is a pupil at Dance City and has had to drop out of the show due to his commitments there.

Arena North founder Mrs Walker said: "To lose Bernie as the director was a huge blow and the members of the cast were very despondent when I had to break the news to them. Bernie has worked with us on several productions, including some at The Fringe in Edinburgh, and we rely greatly on her expertise. But, these things happen and both she and Callum were presented with opportunities that they couldn't turn down.

He will be a great miss too."

Mrs Walker is now having to rewrite the script with company member Val Hoffman, re-allocate parts and get help with lighting and sound. "I have never been more aware of the saying 'the show must go on', " she said.

"We cannot disappoint our audience, which V includes many people who have supported if us since we began, and the cast is keen to H go on."

A Night Before Christmas is scheduled to run for three evenings from December 16, at The Little Theatre, in Gateshead. It is I a play about how a Victorian family might I spend Christmas Eve and includes ' charades, jokes, readings and carols. Suitable for all the family, the play starts at 7.30pm.