STARTING THIS WEEK

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, December 12-January 5)

CHART-topping singer Sonia returns to panto alongside Mark Monaghan from Holby City. Joining them will be Ed Petrie from CBBC, Emma Nowell from Hi-5, Mark James and Nick Wilton as well as dancers from thw Liverpool Theatre School. Call 0151 666 0000 or visit www.floralpavilion.com.

PETER PAN (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, December 13-January 5)

PANTO returns this Christmas with a line-up of Liverpool favourites. Ray Quinn (Grease, Dancing on Ice) stars as the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan, alongside Brookside’s Louis Emerick as Captain Hook, Juice FM’s Leanne Campbell as Tiger Lily, Shaun Mason (Cinderella’s Buttons) as Smee, Radio City’s Pete Price as Pirate and Emma Stephens as Wendy. Fly away on a spectacular journey of wonder and excitement into the magical world of Neverland this festive season. Join Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys in their thrilling adventure to save Tinkerbell from the villainous Captain Hook and his crew of dastardly pirates. With stunning special effects (including amazing flying!), sumptuous costumes, superb sets and a good helping of fairydust, Peter Pan is the perfect treat for the whole family and for those who never want to grow up! Call 0844 847 2525 or visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk.

PETER PAN (Lyceum Theatre, Heath Street, Crewe, December 14-January 5)

HOOK your seats for Cheshire’s biggest pantomime Peter Pan, with TV soap-star Adam Woodyatt as Captain Hook and The Grumbleweeds as Smee and Starkey. With spectacular special effects, stunning costumes, comedy in abundance and all the audience participation you’d want from a family-pantomime this is a theatre visit you’ll definitely treasure! Call 01270 368242 or visit www.crewelyceum.co.uk.

SLEEPING BEAUTY (Winsford Lifestyle Centre, The Dumber, Winsford, December 16-24)

STARLIGHT Youth Theatre present the family classic for the festive season. A young princess is forced to live in the woods until her 16th birthday. Who was the handsome prince in the forest? Will it be a happy ending? With some well known songs and dances, a wonderful pantomime horse called Samson and a chance for you to help with the magic by waving your wands, this is a pantomime for young and old. Call 01606 550700 or visit www.makebelieveentertainment.co.uk.

WINTER WONDERLAND ON ICE (Parr Hall, Palmyra Square, Warrington, December 19)

THIS Christmas ice skating show, performed on synthetic ice features a variety of acrobatic and artistic skating routines combined with comedy, glamour and festive fun. Ice Glitz Productions presents a cast of international ice skating stars who have perfomed in world class ice shows such as Holiday on Ice, Disney on Ice and appeared in the ITV series Dancing on Ice. They will dazzle you with breathtaking lifts, tricks and spins and warm your hearts this Christmas with the story of Rusty, a toy dog that comes to life and makes some new friends in Winter Wonderland. The show will also feature spectacular variety acts who have performed in some of the world’s top variety and circus shows, including Cirque Du Soleil. Call 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

STILL SHOWING

ALADDIN - THE LEGENDARY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PANTO (Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool, November 29-January 18)

FRANCIS Tucker, fresh from his triumph in this summer’s Chester Mystery Plays, is reunited with Adam Keast for yet another spectacular rock ‘n’ roll panto which has become such a firm favourite at Christmas in Liverpool. Call 0151 709 4776 or visit www.everymanplayhouse.com.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, November 29-January 25)

THE Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is seasonal entertainment with all the trimmings – jokes, slapstick and lashings of audience participation – spiced with classic hit songs, all played by our multi-talented cast of actor/musicians. Prince Promising is crowned the country’s largest King. But the festivities are interrupted when a Wicked Witch, turns our handsome hero into a horrible Beast. To reverse his fate the Beast must win the heart of Beauty and take her hand in marriage. But can she ever really love him? Will a magic mirror help to break the curse? Or must the handsome Prince remain a Beast forever? Meanwhile, back in Wales, is the hapless Peacock Beauregarde about to succumb to the charms of Dame Bronwen Bigbreaths? Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.

THE PIED PIPER (Unity Theatre, Hope Place, Liverpool, December 3-January 11)

ONCE upon a time, in a town with no cats, Arrived a swarm of ravenous rats. They ate up the chocolate, they ate up the pie, They ate up so much the mayor started to cry! Can nobody save us? Will nobody try? When all of a sudden a Piper came by. I’ll rid you of rats, both thin and both long, I’ll do it with music, I’ll do it with song! But sadly the town was unwilling to pay, So one of the children must save the day! A family show with song, dance and fun, A musical adventure perfect for everyone. Call 0844 873 2888 or visit www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.

SLEEPING BEAUTY (Venue Cymru, Llandudno, December 7-29)

VICKY Entwistle, Coronation Street’s loveable, loudmouth Janice Battersby, will star alongside Coach Trip host Brendan Sheerin in this year’s spectacular family pantomime. Funny man John Evans makes a welcome return for his seventh Llandudno pantomime season! Audiences can look forward to an unmissable production packed with an abundance of comedy, sensational musical numbers together with fabulous sets and costumes. This is pantomime at its very best! Call 01492 872000 or visit www.venuecymru.co.uk.

THE SNOW QUEEN (St Mary’s Centre, St Mary’s Hill, Chester, December 5-January 11)

FOLLOWING last year’s critical and commercial triumph with A Christmas Carol, Theatre in the Quarter return with another festive spectacular. All the company’s special ingredients - artistic director Matt Baker’s original music, wonderful storytelling, digital media and a fusion of community and professional theatre performers - will combine to make this another memorable Christmas feast. Embark on a journey to the Snow Queen’s palace, meeting wild robbers, penguins, reindeer, princes, princesses, ravens and even a polar bear on the way. Call 01244 500959 or visit www.theatreinthequarter.co.uk.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, December 7-30)

TIP Top Productions present Peter Swingler’s wonderful new version of the classic fairy tale which follows in the footsteps of last year’s sell-out production of Cinderella. Snow White is the enchanting story of the girl with skin as white as snow and lips that are ruby red, doomed by her beauty. Her evil stepmother, the Wicked Queen, plots her death when a magic mirror declares Snow White to be ‘the fairest of them all’. Freed by the henchman sent to cut out her heart, Snow White flees to the forest where she finds sanctuary with seven dwarfs. Visit www.chestertheatre.co.uk or call 01244 341296.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (Epstein Theatre, Hanover Street, Liverpool, December 11-January 5)

LHK PRODUCTIONS bring back the family filled fun of the pantomime to the Epstein Theatre this Christmas. The cast features Crissy Rock, Amanda Harrington, Paul Danan, Herbert of Liverpool and Laura Gregory. Call 0844 888 4411 or visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk.

SNOW WHITE (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, December 3-January 5)

FIRST Family Entertainment returns to produce the highlight of the Christmas calendar with this year’s Regent Theatre pantomime. Stoke panto legend Jonathan Wilkes revisits his home town once more, as the charming Muddles - and in one of the best Panto double-acts around, comedy favourite Christian Patterson will be returning alongside Jonny, as Herman the Henchman. Packed with brilliant slapstick, hilarious comedy, stunning sets and sensational songs. Will the Wicked Queen woo the Prince away from the beautiful Snow White, or will the loveable Seven Dwarfs help to save the day? Visit www.ambassadortickets.com or ring 0844 871 7649.

COMING SOON

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, January 18-25)

CHESTER Theatre Club presents Lucy Kirkwood’s version of the classic story, directed by Alison Knott. Not a panto but a fairytale, a very different beast from the Disney version. Set in a seedy, run-down theatre and narrated by the rather peculiar Pink Fairy, this is a sophisticated, somewhat dark play suitable for older children and adults. It was first performed at the National Theatre in 2011 and this is the first time it has been performed elsewhere. Full of music, magic and humour, the play will delight and enchant even the most cynical of theatregoers. Call 0844 870 0887 or visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk.

UNDER MILK WOOD (Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, February 6-March 8)

A WORK of genius from Dylan Thomas, ripe with vitality, rich in humour and populated by sublime eccentric and enchanting characters. Come to Llareggub, a small Welsh town by the sea. Meet blind Captain Cat, Mog Edwards and his sweetheart Miss Price, Sinbad Sailor, Dai Bread, Polly Garter, Nogood Boyo and Lord Cut Glass. Walk along Coronation Street, Cockle Row and Donkey Street, down to the little fishing harbour and back to Milk Wood. Thomas explores their lives, hopes and thoughts in the dreams of a night and the rhythms of a day. Both a play and a poem, written from the heart, it offers an unforgettable journey into the roots of language and the soul of Wales. This new production, directed by Terry Hands, marks the centenary of Dylan Thomas’ birth in 1914 and the 60th anniversary of the play’s British premiere. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.

USELESS BEAUTY (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, February 13-15)

OLD friends and new partners, short fuses and long memories. What should have been a simple social evening, when married couple Kate and Martin invite Helen and Kate’s old friend from university, Alex, round for some food, takes a sedries of unexpected turns in Tip Top regular Mark Newman’s new black comedy of bad manners and good wine. Visit www.chestertheatre.co.uk or call 01244 341296.