ALTHOUGH it seems unseasonably early to be thinking about pantomime, theatre bosses in Poole have wasted no time in revealing their plans for this year

Former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan has confirmed he will be returning to the Lighthouse with Cinderella. (December 8 to January 6).

Co-produced by Lighthouse and Duncan Reeves Productions (led by Peter Duncan and musical director Darren Reeves), Cinderella will feature a star-studded cast soon to be announced.

The show marks the beginning of a new three-year producing partnership with the aim of bringing high quality family pantomime to Poole, and follows the success of last year’s Christmas show Aladdin.

Peter Duncan, who returns to Lighthouse as Sam Phillips, the father of Rock’n’Roll in the smash hit musical Million Dollar Quartet from November 14-18, has a background firmly rooted in pantomime.

His parents, comedian Alan Gale and soprano Patricia Kaye were also panto producers and his childhood was spent surrounded by the paraphernalia of Pantoland.

Peter was instrumental in bringing pantomime back to The Hackney Empire after a gap of thirty years and it was after working with Darren Reeves on pantomimes at the Oxford Playhouse that the pair decided it was time to produce together.

No stranger to the Poole area, Peter was the UK’s Chief Scout from 2004 to 2009, during the time when scouts in over two hundred countries celebrated their centenary in a live broadcast from Brownsea Island.

Peter told the Echo: “I’m really looking forward to creating another good pantomime at Lighthouse. There will be much laughter and spectacle along with a talented cast - I promise!”

Peter’s producing partner Darren Reeves is a musical director and West End performer. As well as playing Benny in Björn Again and the lead role of Pianoman in Billy Joel’s hit musical Movin’ Out, he is now a member of Roger Taylor’s Queen Extravaganza, recently touring the UK and Australia.

Elspeth McBain, Chief Executive of Lighthouse said: “Lighthouse is delighted to be renewing its producing partnership with Duncan Reeves Productions.” “Aladdin proved to be tremendously popular with our audiences last Christmas and we’re looking forward to creating an even more magical and fun-filled panto with Cinderella.”

Cinderella enjoys a four-week run at Lighthouse from Friday, 8 December 8 2017 to Saturday, January 6 in 2018.

Tickets are on sale now from the ticket office on 01202 280000 or online at lighthousepoole.co.uk