THIS week the Lowestoft Players have given out a sneak peak of one of the many different costumes that Nick Garrod will be wearing as Dame Clarissa Clutterbucket in their forthcoming pantomime of Beauty and the Beast.

THIS week the Lowestoft Players have given out a sneak peak of one of the many different costumes that Nick Garrod will be wearing as Dame Clarissa Clutterbucket in their forthcoming pantomime of Beauty and the Beast.

The production is set to be the Players' 41st pantomime and every year their wardrobe team are faced with the same daunting challenge of creating a different costume for every scene that the Dame appears in.

Wardrobe mistress Diana Richards said: 'This year we have had to create 13 dames costumes, each one individually themed to match each of the scenes that she appears in. The costume featured in the photograph is just one of them and is based on the novel idea of an iced birthday cup cake, decorated with oversized smarties.'

Work is continuing on the other costumes as they are perfected to raise a laugh from the audience, while rehearsals are still well under way with the opening night drawing ever closer.

Players publicity officer and director Stephen Wilson said: 'Final rehearsals are now in full swing and audiences are in for a real treat with this years panto, which features a gunge tank, the black theatre of fantasy, a crazy castle film sequence and an X-factor spin-off show.

'With a revised performance slot of late January, this pantomime will be well worth waiting for. This year Beauty and the Beast promises to be our best home grown pantomime ever.'

Beauty and the Beast will be showing at The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, from Saturday, January 24 to Sunday, February 1, for nine performances, with matinees on both Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available from the Theatre Box Office on 01502 533200.