'Oh yes it is!'

The Reydon and Southwold Pantomime is back to stage its annual show, which promises to be fun for all the family.

The all-women cast is, for the first time, staging Beauty and the Beast. The group is performing its 36th panto since its first performance, which was Cinderella back in 1981.

Louise Harrison, who co-wrote and co-produced this year's panto with Dawn-wenda Harvey, said: 'We want to get the audience as involved as possible. Everyone can join in and it's good family fun.'

The 37-year-old from Wrentham is involved for the 11th time, but her links with the group go back to her childhood when she sat in the audience as a little girl, as her grandparents were involved in some of the first shows.

She added: 'We started writing the script last February and rehearsals began in September, so it is a year-round project.

'It is quite unusual for have an all-female cast for a pantomime. Even our dame is played by a woman but it works really well.'

Audiences can expect a live band, local gags and plenty of panto traditions, as well as a few surprises.

The performances take place on Sunday, January 24 at 2pm and then Tuesday to Saturday, January 26 to January 30 at 7.15pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm as well.

St Edmunds Hall in Southwold is once again the venue for the show. Tickets £7 (£3 children) and a booking fee. Tickets are now on sale online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/rspanto

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