Magical pantomimes and festive shows promise plenty of laughs and sparkle

Snoozing is out of the question for The Lakes Players as the prime movers of princely pantomime take on Sleeping Beauty.

Running from January 19-24 at The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, the enchanting story begins with the evil Carabosse and her side kick Gob - played by Alex Wickens and Rachel Slater - who are both upset not been invited to Princess Belle’s, played by Carmel Wigglesworth, first birthday party. Carabosse decides to put a curse on the Princess: when she reaches her 18th birthday she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.

The Queen played by the ever funny Nicky Woods is beside herself until fabulous Fairy Godfather, Anthony Dean, changes the curse that Carabosse creates.

Stewart Hart directs the spectacular panto with the help from his usual gang Gareth Lambert (producer) Catherine Robinson (choreographer).

Lakeland Radio’s Simon Yaxley plays the hilarious Nanny Knot and special effects include a flying time machine and an amazing outer space sequence.

For tickets you can buy online at www.lakesplayers.co.uk or telephone 07801-732140.

Meanwhile, at Burneside, there's mutiny in the air as the showstopping buccaneers of Burneside Amateur Theatrical Society sail off in search of buried gold in Treasure Island.
Once again, Captain Gordon Lawson is at the helm guiding his charismatic shipmates through adventurous waters.

Treasure Island, The Panto brings you all the very best of traditional pantomime and misses absolutely no opportunity to press-gang the audience right into the thick of the seafaring action.
Running from January 8-10 and January 13-16, the BATS bonaza is played out against the glorious backdrop of the high seas.

Jim Ladd (the youthful hero of our seafaring yarn) is given a mysterious map, showing the whereabouts of buried treasure of the infamous pirate, Captain Red Rum.

In the company of Mrs Skantillick Ladd (Jim’s mother and indomitable pantomime dame), the Squire, Doctor Liversausage, and Captain Smellit, Jim sets out to recover the treasure. Alas, he is blissfully unaware that the vessel they embark on is run by none other than Red Rum's old gang, led by rascally, one-legged Long John Silver.

A roller coaster ride of adventure ensues, both aboard ship and on Treasure Island itself, during which the motley crew encounter a variety of other madcap panto characters. 
Box office on 07792-777213.

This year, the Brewery Arts Centre is taking a break with its tradition of putting on a long-running Christmas show by programming a series of hand-picked, one-off seasonal events

Included will be a double helping of theatre during yuletide - Christmas Gothic on Wednesday, December 16, by Dyad Productions, which resurrects a Victorian tradition of telling spine-chilling winter tales, many penned by classic authors, by atmospheric candlelight.

Following on, the Brewery Youth Arts team will be joining forces with Kirkbie Kendal School for a joint production of Alice (December 10-12), a fast-paced, funny, modern day retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story Alice in Wonderland.

The Kendal theatre will also host a special screening of Tchaikovsky’s festive favourite ballet The Nutcracker from the Royal Opera House on December 27.

And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas, without Brewery legend, pianist Joyce Humber, tinkling the ivories once again for her Christmas Eve Carol Concert.

For details of all Brewery Christmas events visit www.breweryarts.co.uk.

Grasmere Players will be spreading plenty of good cheer courtesy of their own version of Cinderella. The Grasmere Cinders sticks to the main story of the well-loved fairytale but laced with wonderful twists, turns and sub-plots along the way. There will be a large cast ranging in age from eight to 80 with all the usual flashes, bangs, corny gags, shouts of "he’s behind you," and not one Dame - but three.

Written and directed by Annie Miller, the tinsel-tinted show takes to the Grasmere Hall stage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 17-19 (7.30pm) with an extra matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets will be available from Barney’s Newsbox (015394-35627 during shop hours) from the last week in November.

After a flying visit to Neverland last year for Peter Pan, Keswick's Theatre by the Lake jumps on its sledge and heads this year for the snowy wastes of the far north for The Snow Queen, which runs from November 28 to January 16.

It’s the latest in a series of Christmas plays for all the family staged at the theatre since it opened in 1999.

The Snow Queen is based on the famous story by Hans Christian Andersen published 150 years ago and tells the classic tale of an adventurous quest: shy Gerda grows in courage as she wanders through the seasons to rescue her friend Cei from the clutches of the Snow Queen. If she fails, the world will freeze over and the age of ice will return.

The story has been adapted for the stage by Charles Way, author of more than 50 plays.

The Snow Queen, directed by associate director Mary Papadima, presents many challenges for designer Martin Johns and his team: the script calls for the Snow Queen to fly through the night sky, Cei is swept away by a raging river, Gerda sees the sea for the first time, and the Northern Lights shimmer - twice.

Box office 017687-74411.

Laughter makers Ulverston Pantomime Society stages Dick Whittington and His Cat at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, from January 27-30.

Produced by Elaine Parkinson with musical director, Paul Bryden, and choreographer, Jean Lancaster, the British Legion started the annual panto in Ulverston in 1948. Gladys Cox was the producer for the first two productions, followed by Bridget Turner until 1980 when Elaine Parkinson took the reins and has remained there ever since.

Performances start at 7pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Tickets available from the Coronation Hall box office on 01229-587140.

Much mirth and merriment is promised in bucket loads at Lancaster's Grand Theatre in Jack and the Beanstalk, a towering tale packed with all the traditional ingredients of side-splitting panto, magical sets and a castle full of surprises.

A sparkling Lancaster Footlights production, live music accompanies the singing, dancing and audience participation. Will Jack sell Daisy the Cow? Is he bold and brave enough to climb the Beanstalk and rescue the Princess from the greedy Giant?

Pop along and see for yourself from December 4 and umpteen dates in between until December 29.

Box office 01524-64695 or visit www.lancastergrand.co.uk.

Kendal College performing arts students are back in the spotlight with a new adaptation of Cinderella staged in The Box Theatre on Monday, November 30, (1.30pm and 6pm) and Tuesday, December 1 (10am, 1.30pm, 7.30pm) before heading off on a tour of the region's primary schools. Cinderella sleeps in the kitchen and works night and day watched over by her mean step sisters, Thisun and Thatun and her step mum. But she’s found some lovely new friends down there, who think they can sort things out and make it all better – her new friends are rats. Cinderella wants to go to the ball because she really wants to dance, she promised her mum and dad that she would, but she never gets the chance to practice. Thisun and Thatun hate dancing but don’t want any competition in their plans to marry the Prince. Clever and fun, the play will spark young children’s imagination as the classic, timeless tale unfolds before their eyes.

The script has been developed by year two performing arts students who have written and choreographed the songs and dances throughout. The actors play multiple instruments from harmonica and tobacco box guitar to banging a pot. The set and lighting and sound has been created and developed by the technical production students who also work with the actors when the show tours to local primary schools.

Tickets on 01539-814634.

Elsewhere at Staveley Roundhouse, Fliss Pocock returns to the director's chair and is having fun working with a great cast of actors who enjoying going back to their youth and reliving the glory days when they were in the school nativity play. Running from December 7-12, Tim Firth's Flint Street Nativity puts Sarah Brett, Alison Hine, Kate Vernon, Kate Walford and Jacqui Wallace, Kevin Beecroft, Denis Bland, Bob Christie, John Oldroyd and Chris Whiteside, centre stage.

It tells of Mrs Horrocks' class of seven year olds who are about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads – and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he's not a proper star like they have at NASA. Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. Oh my, then the stick insect escapes.

To book telephone 015395-61076 or email staveleyrht@btinternet.com.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs at Blackpool's Grand Theatre from December 4 until January 3. Within the star-studded cast of the seaside theatre's seasonal spectacular are beloved actress Su Pollard, Blackpool’s very own Dancing on Ice star Dan Whiston, as well as BBC Radio Lancashire and Grand panto favourite Steve Royle - plus a few special guests.

Box office 01253-743339.

A beastly tale beautifully told will entertain audiences at The Dukes in Lancaster this festive season.

Beauty and the Beast, which runs from November 20-January 2, is a classic fairytale full of adventure, fun, wonderful characters and drama.

The audience is invited to join Belle as she leaves her family and ventures deep into the forest towards the magical castle. There she confronts the Beast, a grizzly and gruesome creature whose hiding from the world.

Performed in The Round, this new version of Beauty and the Beast has been adapted by the Lancaster-based writer and father-of-two, Eddie Robson.

It promises to be a feelgood festive treat for all the family and is the perfect Christmas play for anyone aged 5 plus.

Beauty and the Beast is the highlight of The Dukes festive season that also includes a Christmas Cabaret with Slightly Fat Features on December 10-11.

The Voice finalist Lucy O’Byrne makes her stage debut in the iconic role of Maria in The Sound of Music at The Lowry.

Bill Kenwright’s lavish five-star production about the von Trapp family runs at the award-winning Salford theatre from December 14 until January 2.

Lucy, who hails from Dublin, became a household name earlier this year when she shot to success as a finalist in the live shows of the BBC One talent show. With chart-topper Will.i.am as her mentor, and biggest fan, Lucy made history as the first classical singer to reach the final, impressing the nation with her stunning vocal range.

Also running at The Lowry from December 9 until January 10 is best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson's tale of plucky Hetty Feather, brought thrillingly to life on stage by award-winning script writer Emma Reeves (CBBC’s The Story of Tracy Beaker) and the Olivier Award nominated director Sally Cookson. With an original musical score by Benji Bower, circus skills and a huge heart, Hetty Feather is a terrific adventure story.

Box office 0843-208-6000.

It will be a giant of a pantomime when Strictly Pantomimes and the Forum Theatre at Barrow join festive forces staging the magical adventure, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Running from Monday, December 14 until December 30, follow Jack and his friends on their journey up the beanstalk and into the Giant’s castle, as they do battle with evil henchman Fleshcreep, discover the magic of the skies and find more glittering riches than they could ever have imagined. This year's panto star's are the Bay Breakfast's Danny Matthews as King Bumble and Jade from Go!Go!Go! as Fairy Fabulous.

Will Jack win the heart of Jill? Will the family ever be reunited with their lost, four-legged friend? Will Dame Trott be able to pay the rent? They’ll need your help, so come along and cheer the good guys, boo the baddies and laugh all the way home. Box office on 01229-820000.

Carlisle's The Sands Centre hosts Cinderella from December 11-31, packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter, and starring a glittering array of household names: Dancing On Ice winner and EastEnders heart throb Sam Attwater as Prince Charming; international soul legend Sheila Ferguson as Fairy Godmother; Leanne Jarvis from BBC1’s The Voice UK’ as Cinderella; Connor Byrne from CBBC’s Tracy Beaker as Baron Hardup and, of course, Robbie Dee from CFM Radio as Buttons.

Box office 01228-633766.