IF you’ve not managed to catch a panto this Christmas, there’s still time with the Highcliffe Charity Players’ family panto at the Regent Centre in Christchurch and their The Pantomime Adventures of Robin Hood.

It runs for 10 performances including three matinees, a mid-morning and a tea time ‘meet the cast’ show, from January 17-24.

Tickets are £9.50-£13.50 and profits go to local charities.

Toby Bradford and Tina Webster’s hilarious panto adaptation chosen this year by Highcliffe Charity Players contains more than its fair share of mayhem and merriment. The audience can expect great sets and costumes, popular show songs, dazzling dance routines, slapstick humour and, of course, plenty of audience participation.

Director Malcolm George told The Guide: “I haven’t directed since Goldilocks in 2008, so I’m delighted to be back in the director’s chair once again.”

He added: “And it’s great to have such an enthusiastic and wonderfully talented cast of both HCP favourites and terrific newcomers.

“We’re certainly having an adventure.”

This year’s outrageously costumed dame, Nanny Nora Tittle Tattle, is played by Paul Barrington and the evil Sheriff by Mike Young.

Nickit and Scarper, the Sheriff’s dim tax collectors, are Pete Whitaker and talented dance school owner Daniel Murrell, who persistently try to steal the show with their energetic antics and comic banter.

Much the Miller’s Son is played by 19-year old Charlie Barrington, the Soothsayer by popular comedienne Christine Duell and the glamorous Enchantress of the Forest by Emma Barrington.

Both the young leads are taking principal roles with HCP for the first time – Robin Hood is played by 22-year old Chris Felgate and Maid Marion by 18-year old Evie Shiner.

  • The Pantomime Adventures of Robin Hood runs at the newly refurbished Regent Centre for 10 performances from January 17 to 24. Tickets (£9.50-£13.50) are on sale both at the Regent Centre Box Office (01202 499199) and online at regentcentre.co.uk