A COMMUNITY drama group has appealed for Romsey to keep its artistic spirit as it launches its play at The Plaza Theatre.

Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society is currently performing Aladdin at the town theatre, with the cast of 20 all coming from Romsey or the wider area.

As the show begins to perform to the public, members of the group have appealed for residents to get involved with the society to help the town keep its community artistic spirit.

Matthew Ellison has been a member of RAODS for the past ten years.

He said: "Of course we are always looking to extend out and have more people come along, it's important that the town knows there are artistic avenues out there.

"This play is a staple of that as, this year, we have a higher than usual number of youth members playing both chorus and principle roles.

"My wife Georgette is also in the performance, and we both play opposite sexes and even get to flirt a little!"

Georgette added: "We want Romsey to keep its community spirit going and that will only happen with people from the town coming to be a part of something special.

"I feel as though Rum's Eg provides a sense of art, and we do the same on the dramatic side of things."

Aladdin is currently on at The Plaza, and runs from now until Sunday, before three more performances from January 26 until Saturday 27.

Show director Alan Rimmer said: "Over the past few months the cast has worked very hard and I have really appreciated the effort they have all made.

"I listened to the audience as they were leaving on the first night and the ones who were talking about the show were saying how great it was and they had thoroughly enjoyed it."