Jonathan Wilkes stars in Cinderella at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent

Dec 3 2009 by Will Harris, Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE panto lovers are promised a feast of festive fun in the Regent Theatre panto Dick Whittington.

The streets of Stoke-on-Trent will be paved with gold this Christmas as Jonathan Wilkes returns for his fifth successive Potteries panto appearance.

He will be hoping to top an astonishing run of record-breaking years, having stolen the show in Mother Goose, Aladdin, Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and will once again take on the title role in the production that gets under way from December 10.

Joining Wilkes this year is singing sensation, Sheila Ferguson who will be playing the part of Fairy Oatcakes. Her career has taken her from the top of the charts to the big screen and on to bookshelves across the world.

As lead singer for iconic girl group The Three Degrees, Sheila has more than 17 chart-topping hits to her name including the all-time classic When Will I See You Again, Take Good Care of Yourself and A Woman in Love.

Also on the bill is stage actress and model, Amy Diamond, who is to play the part of Alice Fitzwilliams, while a very special guest in Pete Conway – aka Robbie Williams’ dad – takes the role of Mr Fitzwilliams for the first two weeks of the run.

Completing the line-up is West End star Steven Serlin as King Rat, Stoke’s Top Talent 09 winner Su Annagib is the Sultana of Morocco, while the hilarious Christian Patterson, who returns for a third year running, dons his most shocking outfits to play the wackiest dame in panto-land Sarah the Cook.

Theatre spokesman, Dave Bradbury, said: “Join Dick Whittington on his fun-filled quest for fame and fortune. Will the streets really be paved with gold? Will he win the hand of the lovely Alice? And will he defeat the dastardly King Rat?

“The Regent Theatre’s pantomime has become a must-see Christmas tradition and Dick Whittington promises to provide all the ingredients for the perfect panto – sensational songs, dazzling dance routines, plenty of audience participation and side-splitting comedy. It’s a guaranteed recipe for festive fun.”

Dick Whittington runs at The Regent Theatre from Thursday December 10 until Sunday January 10. Tickets are priced £14-£23, phone the box office on 0844 871 7649 to book.