PANTO season is far from over — just ask the young actors who will take to the stage tomorrow to spread some festive cheer into January.

Victoria Hall ADS, which is celebrating 50 years of pantomime by returning to the stage the first seasonal show it staged — Babes in the Wood.

Taking their first main roles are Leah Grundy, aged 12, and Libby Howarth, aged 13, and 10-year-old Morgan Pennington-Rothwell will be playing the show's four legged friend.

Leah, who plays Jill, said: "Rehearsals are going really good and I’m really excited to start performing to an audience.

"This will be the first time I’ve played an actual part — I started in Jack and the Bean Stalk two years ago and I was one of the dwarfs in Snow White.

"I like acting because you get to be a different person –instead of being yourself you can be someone else and feel what it’s like to be in someone else’s boots.

"I like that my character is a child so energetic and she feels a lot of emotions like scared sad and frightened."

She added: "We’re doing a duet together which I’m a bit nervous for, but we have been friends since we were four-years-old and used to sing the song at school, so we know it really well.”

Libby, who is playing Jack, said: "It’s all going really well and really coming along — we all feel like a big panto family.

"I’m so excited to start the actual performances because I love seeing the audiences faces and reactions.

"I took part in Puss in Boots last year, I’ve never been a main character and just always been in the chorus so really happy I get to get this part and I can live up to the high expectations.

"Jack is cheeky and naughty, and I feel like an older brother to Jill - a bit like own personality."

Morgan has appeared in a number of shows including the favourite Snow White.

She said: "I have been the in the chorus twice and played the part of Sneezy in Snow White.

"I’m really enjoying it so far and really excited to start performing to the audience —I love my part because I enjoy communicating with cast and being on stage and having fun.

"I like performing on stage because I like people being proud of me and having fun.

"It’s a really good thing if you have nothing to do at home – its really fun."

Dawn Hargreaves, joint director and choreographer made her debut in the children's chorus in the show at the age of five singing the solo "The Fairy on the Christmas Tree"

She said about the Libby and Leah: "I think it’s been quite challenging for them – it’s their first main part, they have both come through chorus as most of us do and progress up – there’s a few tricky parts so they’ve done really well. They’re singing duet together as well which is really hard to do."

Dawn added: "Morgan's done really well — as soon as she did the audition we knew she had to have the part — she blew it out the park.”

Babes in the Wood will take to the stage at the Victoria Hall tomorrow on (Friday, January 5), Saturday, January 6, Friday, January 12, Saturday, January 13, Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20.

For tickets ring 01204 845493 or email info@victoriahallsads.com.

Tickets are available from the Victoria Hall box office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm and on Saturdays from 10am to noon.