BURNESIDE Amateur Theatrical Society's New Year production promises lashings of laugh out loud moments and songs to singalong to.

But wait...centre stage is one of panto land’s biggest, boo-able baddies, who has his evil eyes on getting his mean-spirited mitts on a sizeable stash of treasure.

BATS stage Ben Crocker's Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, running at The Bryce from next Friday until Sunday, January 6-8, and January 11-14.

Check it out as the cast head for sunny Baghdad, where principal boy, Ali Baba, alas is down on his luck and in love with principal girl, the lovely Safiya, a slave girl in Ali’s brother’s household.

Things change though for Ali when he stumbles across a magnificent cave of treasures. Watch out Ali - that dastardly dude Sheikh Mustafa Leake and his band of incompetent 40 thieves are poised and ready to scupper his plans and get rich quick.

Once again BATS director Gordon Lawson and his talented theatrical troubadours are ready to trot out another whacky and whopping portion of panto.

"We’re promising our audience a fun filled spectacular of panto madness, mayhem and mirth - cast, crew and camel are raring to get going after the New Year," says Gordon, who points out that in true BATS fashion, the set is big, bright and bold.

"Our expert team of panto elves, led by the bearded wonder, Stewart Williams, are busying themselves painting the sets in the brightest colours available from the panto paint shop."

Back within the rollicking ranks of BATS for her second helping of panto is Tracey Howson, leading the glittering cast as Ali Baba: "She's bringing her natural sense of fun to the roll, coupled with a great singing voice," adds Gordon. "Plus, she's been practising day and night slapping her thigh."

Taking her first lead role is Elisha Selby as Safiya, Ali’s great love: "You might think that Ali is the hero, but it’s Safiya who has all the great ideas how to get the cast out of some really sticky predicaments," continues Gordon. "Elisha also has a great voice, which she demonstrated to great effect in the last Showstoppers production and is really getting stuck into this part.

"And on the dark side - Adam Carruthers swaps a dame's dress for baddie leather as he chews the scenery in best panto style as Mustafa Leake. The panto's laughs gets more and more evil as rehearsals progress."

BATS productions never lack ambition and Gordon always has a few surprises up his directorial sleeve.

There's music and dance galore with modern songs and some more traditional show tunes as the Baba family and friends - including Kamil, the dancing camel and Mum Baba, the beloved dame - duck and dive through the twists and turns of a great story.

With dazzling light and laser effects, explosions and smoke to support a Frankenstein-like resurrection, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves is shaping up to be a spectacular BATS feast of fun.

Performances start at 7.30pm with three 2pm matinees during the run.

Box office 07792-777213.