Panto cast make it a happy day for Joan
STARS of the Kings Theatre Christmas panto made a surprise visit to one lucky lady on her birthday.
Former theatre owner Joan Cooper was celebrating her 90th birthday when the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk went to see her in her nursing home.
Big Brother star Craig Phillips, Lisa Riley, Jasmine Darke, Graham Ashe and Alan Jenkins from the show, donned sparkly hats to get the party going.
Mrs Cooper – who owned the Kings Theatre, Southsea, for 20 years in the early 1960s – was presented with a bouquet of flowers and everybody joined in a happy birthday singsong.
Sheila Smith, from the Kings Theatre, said: 'It was really special. Joan absolutely loved it. She raised her cup of tea and made a toast to the Kings Theatre and to the pantomime.
'The sun was shining as we sat in the conservatory and Joan was bright and looked sparkling.
'We worked together when she used to run the theatre and have stayed close, and she always liked to know what is going on with the theatre.
'It was a thrilling to be able to make such a fantastic trip on her special day.'
Portsmouth Today