Cast of Newark Palace Theatre Christmas pantomime Aladdin to take part in annual launch

Many of the stars of Aladdin, this year's pantomime at the Palace Theatre, Newark, will be in the town centre on Saturday for its annual launch.

Hayley Tamaddon, best known for Emmerdale and Dancing on Ice, will be Princess Jasmine while Tim Freeman who returns to the Newark as pantomime dame Widow Twankey.

Joining Hayley and Tim will be Jenny Perry as Aladdin, Andrew Piper as Abanazar, Emily McGlynn as the Spirit of the Ring and Lucy Keirl as So Shi.

Lucy grew up in Newark and is no stranger to the Palace stage.

"I danced at the Palace a few times as a child with a local dance school," she said.

"I also remember seeing all sorts of things there, including Dick Whittington one year as our family panto – I was pretty taken with the pyro that went off every time the fairy appeared, and the big foam fingers in the foyer."

The principal cast is completed by two familiar faces to Newark, Kevin McGreevy as Wishee Washee and Connor McAllister as the Genie of the Lamp.

Kevin said "I have been reunited with my Newark panto mum Tim Freeman, who I’m looking forward to working with again."

Many of the cast will be out and about at the Palace Theatre and in the town between 11am and 1pm on Saturday.

Carys Coulton Jones, business manager for heritage, culture and visitors, said: " We love having the panto cast come to visit.

"Everyone in town is always really excited to see them around in their colourful sparkly costumes and it’s a great reminder that there are less than three months until Aladdin opens."

The launch is the first day of a panto-focused weekend with Sunday seeing open auditions for the Aladdin Junior Chorus.

"The standard of auditionees for our junior chorus has been great since we started doing open auditions and we can’t wait to see what 2018 will bring," she said.

"More than 100 children turned up to audition last year so we’re very much hoping to beat that record."

Registration for auditions takes place at the Palace between 9.30am and 10am.

Children aged between nine and 16 are eligible to audition. More information can be found at imaginetheatre.co.uk or by contacting the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01636 655 755 to request a registration form.