PREPARATIONS are starting to take shape for Lighthouse Poole’s Christmas pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Taking place between December 12 and January 5, Sleeping Beauty is written and directed by CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, who will also appear as Dame Nanny Nutkins.

It is produced by the same in-house team that has delivered award-winning hit pantomimes in recent years including last year’s Aladdin, as well as Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, with production designer James Smith, choreographer Daniel Donaldson Todd and music director Adam Tuffrey.

Lighthouse has announced West End actress Isabella Kibble will play Princess Rose/Sleeping Beauty in her first panto since her role in the hit West End production of Witness for the Prosecution.

Isabella said: “From our first meeting, Chris was very enthusiastic and I felt very involved. I resonated with the feistiness of Rose – I like to see a young woman being portrayed in that light. It is definitely the sort of role model that young girls and people need to look up to.”

Meanwhile, Melaina Pecorini, who appeared in the long-running West End stage show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will play Fairy Sunbeam.

Tickets for Sleeping Beauty are on sale now at lighthousepoole.co.uk, or call 01202 280000.