THE MAGIC is almost upon us as preparations get under way for this year s Christmas panto at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage. Prepare to be dazzled by an all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of Dick Whittington – a magical fairytale with side-splitti

THE MAGIC is almost upon us as preparations get under way for this year's Christmas panto at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.

Prepare to be dazzled by an all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of Dick Whittington - a magical fairytale with 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 - and Stefan Booth, better known as one of the boys in blue on ITV's long-running show The Bill.

He said: "I love doing Christmas shows. They are full of energy and to be involved in this kind of thing really makes my Christmas.

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

Sheila, who has appeared on ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, plays Fairy Bowbells in the Christmas show.

She said: "I'm looking forward to doing the panto and this fairy godmother will be the most sequined you have ever seen."

Joining the cast will be a feast of old favourites like panto veteran Paul Laidlaw, who will direct the show and don the frocks to play the dame for the 12th time.

Said Paul: "I'm really looking forward to getting back into fancy skirts and this is one of the nicest theatres in the country. It's like coming home in many ways."

The show, one of the longest running in the country, opens on November 25 with the final performance 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