MOST budding actors dream of a big break, but at one Blackpool drama school they've had three of them - all unwelcome.

Two broken arms, a broken leg and a sprain have befallen members of the Whittaker Dance and Drama Centre in the past few months, threatening their roles in Another Laughing Shoe Show in two weeks' time at the Grand Theatre.

But ever professional, the 180-strong cast has pledged the show, loosely based around the panto Cinderella, must go on.

In fact, one of the ugly sisters is carrying on despite having his arm in a plaster cast.

The bad luck started when 18-year-old Lynne Payne, who plays Lady Sourchops, broke her leg badly in a car accident last Easter.

Told she may never dance again, Lynne has battled through and though she still walks with a limp she is able to dance a solo in the show.

Then junior dancer Amie Rutherford, 12, broke her wrist doing a spot of dance practice in her kitchen last October.

She had to sit out a number of rehearsals but now has the all-clear to perform.

The bad luck continued at Christmas when 22-year-old Lee Moran, who plays a dainty 6ft 5ins ugly sister, broke two bones at the back of his hand falling down steps.

He lamented: "I don't know what is happening to us all. Still, it brings new meaning to the old saying that the show must go on.

"My part involves some complicated dancing including a clog dance dressed as a Christmas pudding.

"Being in plaster doesn't really help matters. My plaster is due to come off a week before the show.

"It's cutting it a bit fine but I'm sure it will be okay."

Finally, another junior dancer, Katrina Chinn, turned up to rehearsals last weekend with her sprained wrist in a sling.

Beleaguered but ever-optimistic show director Jack Ganley commented: "I've never known a show like it. We're all keeping our fingers crossed now that everything else will go all right on the night."

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