ST Aelred's Players present their 24th pantomime, Cinderella, at St Aelred's School next week. "At first glance, there does not seem anything unusual about that but all is not as it seems! The format is a little different," says publicity officer Terry Larkman.

"Cinderella's dad, the Baron, has been hoodwinked into marrying the sinister Edna Blowave, the Head of SMOOCH, who comes with the baggage of two evil and ugly daughters, Myopia and Diastema*.

"Edna intends to build the Heworth Supertip and dump the deadly Caesium 574 from which will emerge horrific creatures to take over the world."

Well, it certainly is not shaping up to be the traditional Cinderella so far, and there's more changes to come. "The Prince owns the Heworth land, and so Baroness Edna intends that one of her daughters should marry the Prince and build the supertip," reveals Terry.

"However, M, the head of M62, sends for her agent, James Buttons, instructing him that he must infiltrate the Baroness's scheme by becoming footman to the Baron, but will Buttons save the world?"

Terry promises that despite all these changes, the traditional pantomime story of Cinderella will emerge. "Puzzled? Then you'd best come and see the show and all will be revealed," he says. "This Cinderella may be different from our usual pantomimes but we're confident the children will love it."

Glenn Booth and Rod Young head the production team for a show that features a cast of more than 30. Leading roles go to Claire Horsley, as Cinderella; Vicki Lightfoot, the Prince; Richard Booth, as James Buttons, David Rochester, the Baron; Ian Ellis, Baroness Edna, and Maria Wade and Chrissie Nobbs, as her evil daughters.

St Aelred's Players stage Cinderella at 7.30pm on January 25 and 26, and at 2.30pm and 7pm on January 27. Tickets are available at £3.50, concessions £1.50, from Lynn Horsley on 01904 415836.

Incidentally, St Aelred's Players have offered half of the tickets for next Thursday's show to Tang Hall Community Association to sell and benefit from the receipts.

"Our group, being part of the St Aelred's Parish, wanted to help in some small way our neighbours across the road after the terrible fire at Tang Hall Community Centre," says Terry. "We're delighted that Tom Gibson, the association chairman, has accepted our offer of help."

* Medical note: Diastema - surely the most unusual name ever given to a pantomime character - is defined as "a space between two teeth".