ALTHOUGH it still feels too soon to be thinking about the festive season (oh no it doesn’t), Lighthouse officially launched its new pantomime, Cinderella, at Poole Quay this week.

Members of the cast and local children chosen to appear in the production were joined by co-producer, writer and director Peter Duncan (of Blue Peter and Duncan Dares fame) – as well as two panto ponies.

Cinderella marks the beginning of a new three-year producing partnership between Lighthouse and Duncan Reeves Productions, and follows their success with last year’s panto, 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 the traditions of 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 30 years and it was after working with Darren Reeves that the pair decided 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 said: “I’m really looking forward to creating another good pantomime at Lighthouse. There will be much laughter and spectacle!”

Cinderella is set for a four-week run at Lighthouse, Poole from Friday, December 8 to Saturday, January 6.

Contact the box office for tickets or lighthousepoole.co.uk