THE panto season is upon us again with an all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of Dick Whittington coming to The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage. This year s show promises to be the best ever, and takes the audience on a magical journey of side-splittin

THE panto season is upon us again with an all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of Dick Whittington coming to The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.

This year's show promises to be the best ever, and takes the audience on a magical journey of side-splitting comedy and heart-melting romance, as a boy from a poor family sets out for London to make his fortune accompanied by his cat.

Stars of the show include Sheila Ferguson, of Three Degrees fame, Stefan Booth, better known as one of the boys in blue on ITV's long-running show The Bill, and Royston's Lynsey Britton.

Stefan said: "I love doing Christmas shows. They are full of energy and to be involved in this kind of show will really make my Christmas.

"We want to take people on an adventure. When I used to go to pantos I would get totally immersed in it all, and I hope that will happen to children when they come to see Dick Whittington."

The show boasts an impressive cast, headlined by Sheila Ferguson.

Sheila, who plays Fairy Bowbells, said: "This show is a laugh a minute production, and it promises to be one of the best pantos in the country.

"It has a great script, a great band, and great people, who are all wonderfully talented. I think families are going to love it.

"They should watch out for this Fairy Godmother, because they won't have seen one like her before. I've been given a lot of latitude to work with and this sister is full of sequins and is the slinkiest Fairy panto land has ever seen."

Joining Sheila and Stefan on stage is Lynsey Britton, who plays Alice Fitzwarren.

The talented young actress, who also appears alongside Patrick Swayze in Guys And Dolls in the West End, says the show is a unique family experience.

She said: "The audience will be blown away by the cast, this is a really fantastic show. It's a traditional panto that has been brought into the 21st century and I think it will appeal to so many people."

The cast also includes Paul Laidlaw as the Dame, Lloyd Hollett as Idle Jack, and Jack Edwards as King Rat.

Writer Paul Hendy said: "The singing is fabulous and the acting is first class.

"Whether you're an adult or a child you're going to love it - this is the perfect Christmas treat."

The show, one of the longest-running in the country, opens on November 25, and closes on February 3.

Tickets start at £11.50 and are already on sale. Call the box office on 08700 131 030 or visit www.gordon-craig.co.uk