A TRIP to the pantomime is a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas season, and this year there is a great array of shows on offer around the area. Whether you watch a local company treading the boards, or a TV star in the spotlight, there’s nothing like a colourful pantomime to get you in the festive spirit.

Angles Theatre, Wisbech

THE story of boy made good, Dick Whittington, is the traditional pantomime at the Angles. This is an in-house RATz production, directed by Emlyn Moment. The cast includes some wonderfully named characters, including Sherry Trifle, Sheik Onnit and Rock Eel.

The show runs from December 14-31. Tickets �10 (concessions �8), family tickets �32. Box office: 01945 474447.

King’s Lynn Corn Exchange

FORMER EastEnders actress Letitia Dean will play the Fairy Godmother in this season’s pantomime Cinderella.

Letitia found stardom when she joined the TV soap in 1985. She left Walford in 1995 and has since appeared in The Bill, Drop the Dead Donkey and Strictly Come Dancing.

Cinderella begins with a preview performance on December 8 and runs until January 3. Adult tickets cost from �15.50-�16.50, concessions are available. Box office: 01553 764864.

The Key Theatre, Peterborough

THE Key is sure to be full of Eastern promise when it stages the ever-popular tale of Aladdin. The show will feature local talent alongside a cast of highly skilled professionals. There will be 59 performances between December 8 and January 8.

Tickets cost �16-�10, there are various concessions and discounts. Box office: 01733 207239.

Arts Theatre, Cambridge

SOUL diva and the former lead singer of the Three Degrees, Sheila Ferguson, will play the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She is joined by West End sensation Katie Rowley-Jones (Wicked, Sister Act) in the title role, Any Dream Will Do star Lewis Bradley as the Prince and EastEnders actor Rolan Bell as Dandini.

The show runs from December 8-January 15. Tickets from �10. Box office: 01223 503333.

Cambridge Corn Exchange

SU Pollard, who starred as Peggy in the TV show Hi-de-Hi!, is the star of the musical Annie, to be performed from December 17-31.

Annie tells the story of a gutsy 11-year-old girl, who is left on the steps of a New York City orphanage and is determined to find her real parents.

Tickets cost from �26.50-�12.50 with concessions available. Box office: 01223 357851.

Lighthouse Centre, Ely

THE Garage Youth Theatre presents Robin hood and the Seven Dwarves for three days only. The show will be performed on Thursday and Friday, December 1 and 2 at 7pm, and on Saturday December 3 at 2pm.

Tickets are �4 for adults, �2 for children, and a family ticket is �10. Tickets available from The Hub, at the Lighthouse Centre, Chapel Street, Ely.

Soham Village College

KD Productions perform the traditional family panto Aladdin, by Daniel Bell, at Beechurst Hall, Soham Village College, from December 7-11. Tickets cost �7/�5; family ticket �22. Box office: 01638 780032.

St Peter’s hall, Wilburton

THE Wilburton Theatre Group is performing the Wizard of Oz at St Peter’s Hall in the village on December 8-10. Tickets are �7 for adults and �5 for children and available from the village post office or by telephoning 01353 740321.

The Brook Theatre, Soham

THE only professional pantomime to be performed in East Cambridgeshire is Aladdin, to be staged by That’s Entertainment productions at The Brook Theatre, Soham, from December 8-15. Starring Howie Watkins from BBC TVs Really Wild Show, as Widow Twanky, and Lloyd Notice, West End star of The Lion King, as Abanazer.

Tickets �12.50 adults, �8.50 concessions, �38 family ticket. Box office 01353 721748 or 01353 669759

Littleport Village Hall

THE Littleport Players are staging their version of Alice in Wonderland at Littleport Village Hall in Victoria Street from December 8-10. Directed by Karen Booth, performances will be at 7.30pm with a matinee performance at 2pm on Saturday. Tickets are �7 for adults and �5 for children and available by telephoning 07799604209, or visit the Bargain Centre or Bizzie Lizzie in Littleport.

The Junction, Cambridge

IN the middle of a snow covered forest sits a cottage with a roof made of gingerbread ... international award winning theatre company, New International Encounter, is staging the classic fairytale of Hansel and Gretel. The show includes a blend of live music, clowning and storytelling as they turn the theatre into a magical winter woodland,

The show runs from Decmeber 7-January 3. Tickets costs �11, �6.50 for concessions, and �29 for a family ticket. Box office: 01223 511511.