This was an occasion when the very different casts of two stage productions in Oxford came together.

At the back are a group of the professional actors and actresses who took part in the pantomime Aladdin at the Apollo (now New) Theatre in George Street in December 1987 and January 1988

In front of them are some of the young amateurs who performed on the same stage a few weeks later in the annual Gang Show.

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The more observant of us may recognise the star performer at the back – comedienne Marti Caine.

The members of the 36th Oxford Gang Show were invited to the theatre to prepare for their show while the pantomime was still in full flow.

Oxford Mail photographer John Lawrence took the opportunity to snatch a picture of the two casts together.

The Gang Show had been so successful in previous years that organisers had just handed over nearly £10,000 to charity – and there was enough in the kitty to cover any losses the 1988 show might make.

Publicity officer Paul Tweney said: “The show has been so popular in the past I doubt we will make a loss and any surplus we make will again go to charity.”

Mo Tweney, who helped organise the show, said: “Although we are an amateur company, it is a very professional show.”

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Marti Caine died aged 50 from cancer in 1995. Another well-known entertainer in the 1988 pantomime was The Great Soprendo, magician and entertainer Geoffrey Durham, who played the Emperor in Aladdin.