This year's St Albans pantomime will see a range of celebrities unite for an alternative take on the classic story of Peter Pan.
The 2023 show will run from Friday, December 8, until Sunday, December 31, at the Alban Arena in Civic Close.
Coronation Street regular Chris Gascoyne (AKA Peter Barlow) will take on the role of Captain Hook, while CBeebies' Maddie Moate will take flight as Tinkerbell.
St Albans pantomime regular Ian Kirkby will be returning for his second run as the a Dame, this time taking on the role of Mrs Smee.
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The Herts Advertiser attended a launch event on Wednesday (September 20), and caught up with the cast.
Speaking of taking part in this year's pantomime, Corrie's Chris Gascoyne said: "It's hard work, but I've known Ian (Kirkby) since we were kids, over 40 years, and we went to drama school at the same time in London.
"I like the excitement that people feel before Christmas, it can cheer people up.
"For some people Christmas can be very stressful, certainly for adults, and it's nice - if we can - to give them a laugh."
Asked if there is anything that he can bring from his time on Coronation Street to the St Albans pantomime, Chris spoke of the differences between his character 'Peter' and Captain Hook.
He continued: "He's not a villain, Peter.
"He's just got a lot of different sides to him, but underneath he is a very kind and caring and very insecure person - like all of us.
"That's what I like about him, but I think Captain Hook is an egomaniac, an evil... villain!"
Gascoyne also described having one week to rehearse as "terrifying", but spoke of how "incredible" it is that the pantomime comes together in the end.
Maddie Moate shared Chris' excitement ahead of the pantomime season.
Prior to her second time playing Tinkerbell, she commented: "This is my third year doing pantomime.
"It's a little bit different (than my first time playing the character), in that I'm going into it with a bit of a sense of the character.
"But, more than anything, I just know how fun this character is to play.
"It's really nice, being here today and meeting all the cast, and I'm actually already looking forward to it!"
Straight from the hit West End show Newsies, Samuel Bailey spoke of the challenges of portraying the iconic role of Peter Pan: "Newsies was really rewarding, but really hard on my body!
"When I was a Newsy, we were playing young boys, so I feel like its the same sort of thing as playing Peter Pan.
"There is a lot of high energy, and funnily enough in the arena we were in, we were running around that theatre.
"It was, in a sense, like a pantomime.
"It was very immersive, so I feel like I can bring all of that into this panto."
Taking on the roles of Wendy Darling and Myrtle, Jocasta Almgill said: "I love panto anyway, I think it's such a beautiful time of year.
"I'm so lucky because I get to play Myrtle the mermaid. She's magical, she's on the good side.
"She's everything that, as a kid, you love about panto."
Lastly, St Albans regular Ian Kirkby added: "This is my 11th year now. I think I keep coming back because I feel like it is a real little family that we have in the theatre now.
"A few people have come and gone over the years, but it is pretty much the same crew and front of house staff.
"As an actor, a lot of the time you are so dissipated, doing different things in different places with different people, so it's quite nice when you get to stick with the same group of people for a while.
"I love St Albans as a city, but that's one of the reasons that I keep coming back!"
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