Sleepless nights

Berwick Kaler returns to the stage for this year's panto, Sleeping Beauty, with the help of other firm favourites Martin Barrass, Suzy Cooper and David Leonard.

With a promise to make it "one of the hottest shows" this Christmas, bookings for the production opened in April, with dedicated fans queuing from the early hours to ensure they bagged their favourite seats.

Already, 30,000 seats have been sold as organisers prepare to raise the curtains next month on the classic fairy tale, which will have a few added extras.

Two new faces join the cast for Sleeping Beauty in the shape of Rory Dan Wilder, following his acclaimed performance last year in Single Spies, and Lucy Hunter-James in her debut appearance at York Theatre Royal.

Lucy's credits include Holby City, while her previous pantomime jaunt was as Princess Marigold in Jack And The Beanstalk at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2003.

Tickets are priced £9.75 to £20 and can be purchased at the York Theatre Royal Box Office or by phoning 01904 623568.

Last month, about 80 children, aged between eight and 11, auditioned for the Christmas pantomime, all hoping to tread the boards alongside the cast.

They played games so theatre staff could see how well they listened and responded to instructions, read from scripts with pantomime director Damian Cruden and sang in groups with musical director Rob Jones.

The successful candidates will be divided into two groups of six and will work alternate nights, although they will be on standby for other performances.

There will be 66 performances between Wednesday, December 8, and Saturday, January 29, which is one of the longest pantomime runs in the country.

Pantomime has a long tradition in York. Last year's show broke the theatre's attendance records as 55,000 flocked to see Berwick Kaler's 25th anniversary production of Mother Goose's Silver Jubilee.

Updated: 11:46 Tuesday, November 16, 2004