NEXT week the curtain rises on another priceless piece of pantomime courtesy of The Lakes Players - Dick Whittington.

Practically perfect in every whacky way, the laugh out loud script is penned by writer and actor, Eric Potts, best known as eccentric baker Diggory Compton of Coronation Street fame. And LP director Stewart Hart has been working closely with Eric to create a fresh new version of the timeless tale of a young boy who travels to London to find his fortune, giving it a modern spin. Stewart says its great to be able to work with someone to develop a script that caters for the the popular theatre group.”Working with Eric this year has been a fantastic opportunity to create our very own personalised production from writing in characters especially for cast to slotting in local references about the area,” explained Stewart.

Stewart and his rib tickling panto-teers perform Dick Whittington at The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, from Wednesday-Sunday, January 23-27. Catherine Robinson choreographs the show with the Miss Maria School of Dance.

Centre stage will be Matthew Chadbourne playing Idle Jack; Rachel Baines is the hero Dick Whittington, Amie Whyte is Alice Fitzwarren; Nicky Woods is whiskery Kitty the Cat; Alex Wickens in the guise of evil Queen Rat; Helen Ansell sparkles as Bow Bells, and Kim Hayton appears as Mrs Tiggleywinkle. Not forgetting, LP’s resident chorus: Kate Osmaston, Jenna Barton, Kim Hayton and Ellie Beetham. As well as direct Stewart is the dame, costume clad as Sarah, the cook. So the stage is set for yet another dazzling dose of panto with some airborne action thrown in for good measure: “The audience can expect the usual professional production from the players but I’ve tried to create a fresher feel to the show by choosing up to date numbers,” adds Stewart. “And there’s a fairy that flies without the assistance of wires. It’s a magical, colourful, lively fast paced show but keeping the good old tradition of panto.”

Tickets available at www.ticketsource.co.uk/lakesplayers.