Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS) in Royston is preparing for a busy time ahead in the new year.

Tickets are already selling well for the Royston Town Pantomime - the first to be held in three years - with one of the matinee performances already two-thirds sold.

The show for 2023 is Sleeping Beauty, directed by David Atkins with musical direction by Louise Atkins.

While the show is a new look on an old tale, it contains all the elements of a traditional pantomime, with jokes, songs, dance and audience participation.

The tale begins with the evil Malevolent placing a curse on the beautiful Princess Aurora, who is about to celebrate her birthday but Malevolent has not been invited.

It's up to Prince Rupert, Aurora's nurse, the court jester and Rupert's page - with help from a trio of good fairies - to try to lift the curse.

The panto will be performed as usual at King James Academy Royston (senior site) during the last two weekends of January.

In response to popular demand, the group is putting on an additional matinee performance so that more children and grown-ups can enjoy the show.

Performance dates are Saturday, January 21 (2pm and 7.30pm), Sunday, January 22 (11.30am), Friday, January 27 (7.30pm), and Saturday, January 28 (2pm and 7.30pm).

Tickets went on sale for the first time at the KJAR Christmas Market on Sunday, November 20 and cost £12 for adults and £8 for children, students and OAPs.

To book tickets online visit www.cadsroyston.org.uk or call 07856 599039.

January is also the time when CADs presents its two annual drama awards - The Fred Sillence Award for anyone 18 and over who's made a significant contribution to the performing arts, and the Lizzie Houghton Award for under-18s who have made an outstanding contribution to theatre or drama.

Anyone from the local area can nominate someone, and nominees do not need to be members of CADs.

Entries need to be in by the end of December. Email cads.secretary@gmail.com and include your name, the name of your nominee, the age of your nominee for the youth award, and a brief explanation of why you think they deserve the award.