Wolverhampton panto Aladdin tipped to be best yet - with pictures
It may only be October, but the cast of Aladdin have already jumped on a magic carpet to fly into the Black Country.
This year's pantomime takes place at the newly-renovated Grand Theatre, on Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, from December 10 to January 22.
The launch of the production took place yesterday at the city's Ramada Park Hall Hotel. The show will see stars Joe McElderry, Lisa Riley, Ben Faulks, Lucy Kay and Doreen Tipton take to the stage.
Hot on the heels of last year's Peter Pan, which featured The Chuckle Brothers, EastEnder's Nasty Nick aka John Altman and Ross Carpenter, this year's show is tipped to be the best ever.
X Factor winner Joe McElderry is to take the role of beggar boy turned prince Aladdin. Since winning the talent show in 2009, Joe has appeared on stage and screen.
Earlier this year he appeared at The Grand as the lead in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Actress and TV presenter Lisa Riley is best known for playing Mandy Dingle in soap opera Emmerdale and succeeding Jeremy Beadle as presenter of You've Been Framed! She is to take the role of the Slave Of The Ring.
Aladdin will be Lisa's 17th pantomime and she is dedicating this year's performance to her beloved mother Cath. Lisa said: "May she shine on forever."
Ben Faulks, known for his role as Mr Bloom in CBeebies TV show Mr Bloom's Nursery, is to become the Chief of Peking Police. Tickets cost from £18.50 to £34.50. Visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/panto/aladdin
