A VETERAN director and talented cast are staging a pantomime full of fun and adventure to entertain families this January.

St Joseph’s Players' version of The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor opened at St Joseph’s Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh, last night.

It is being directed by Doreen Johnson — her 20th pantomime for the theatre group which she joined in 1966.

Doreen, aged 80, said: "Rehearsals have gone well.

"It's a lot of hard work but the hardest part is tying it all together,

"We have dancers who rehearse separately, children and principles."

The pantomime, last staged by the group eight years ago, sees Sinbad the Sailor set off on a quest to retrieve the Book of Peace where he is met by Eris — the goddess of destruction — who has taken it to the land of ice and snow.

The wintry connection means they have even been able to feature song of the moment, Let It Go, from Disney's Frozen, in the show which is performed by singers with a live band.

The show features a cast of 24 principles, a chorus line of eight and a children's chorus of about 25.

Doreen, who has written seven pantomimes, said: "We have got some nice new young people.

"It's always nice to see some young faces."

As well as the cast on stage, dedicated members of the backstage crew have been hard at work making costumes and sets to transport the audience on Sinbad's adventure.

The theatre group, which has been staging pantomimes since 1946, won the award for best panto at last year's Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies (BATS) Awards.

Doreen said: "It was quite nice for us.

"We were very thrilled.

"We do 11 performances and have a couple of thousand people in."

St Joseph’s Players also stage plays and the next will be comedy drama Brassed Off.

The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor is on at St Joseph’s Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh, tonight, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, as well as January 28 to 31, at 7.15pm.

There will be matinees on Saturday, January 24, Sunday 25 and Saturday 31 at 2pm.

Call 01942 671354 for tickets.

which opened last night