After a well-deserved Christmas break, rehearsals will be back in full swing next week for Royston’s annual pantomime.

Royston Crow: Writer and co-director of this year's panto Ian Sims, who also plays Abanazar.Writer and co-director of this year's panto Ian Sims, who also plays Abanazar. (Image: Archant)

So it’s time to snap up tickets for January’s CADS production of Aladdin before they sell out.

CADS chairman Ian Cowley says producing the panto has been hugely entertaining for all involved.

He said: “Everyone is having a lot of fun, and that’s really showing in the energy and mayhem that accompanies every panto – but which this one has in buckets.

“There’s a particularly funny rendition of the Twelve Days Of Christmas including 78 props used 364 times in less than five minutes.

“Plus there are classic songs, modern melodies and reworked tunes to keep the feet tapping throughout two hours of non-stop fun.”

The panto – penned by the company’s director Ian Sims – will be packed with the usual gags, plenty of chances to boo at the baddies and cheer the goodies – and there may even be an appearance from CADS stalwart Humpy The Camel.

Humpy was last seen wandering up and down the High Street at the Christmas Fayre and making a nuisance of himself in Costa Coffee and Morrisons.

Panto performances will be staged at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday, January 22 and 23, and the following Friday and Saturday, 29 and 30, with matinees at 2pm on each Saturday.

Tickets are selling really fast this year – the production team has sold 80 per cent of one of the matinees already.

They can be bought online through the CADS website at www.cadsroyston.org.uk, or by calling 07925 674 967.

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £7 for seniors and children.

Once again one of the CADS members, Emma Shaw, will be producing a booklet to help explain the panto to autistic children. It will explain each scene, warning of flashing lights and loud noises, and explain who the goodies and baddies are. Booklets will be available at each performance, and families with autistic children are welcome to come along to the dress rehearsal on Sunday, January 17, from about 10am if they want to look behind the scenes before attending a show.

Nominations for the annual drama awards are now open to all from Royston and the surrounding villages – get in touch with the secretary on cads.secretary@gmail.com before Saturday, January 16, for more details.