IT may only be September, but pantomime season is just around the corner at Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

The theatre has lined up a cast of old friends and new for this year’s festive spectacular, Cinderella, to put that extra sparkle into Christmas in Oldham.

The title role of Cinderella will be played by Shorelle Hepkin, who returns to Oldham for her second pantomime, following a rip roaring performance as Alice in 2017’s Dick Whittington.

Alongside her pantomime prowess, Shorelle may also be familiar to audiences as Kay Lawrence in CBBC’s BAFTA nominated teen drama, Wolfblood, in which she appeared in all four series.

Coliseum favourite Sue Devaney will be playing the Wicked Stepmother. Best known for her roles in Victoria Wood‘s Dinnerladies and BBC’s Casualty, Sue played Rochdale’s finest export, Gracie Fields, in the Coliseum’s world premiere of Our Gracie in 2016 and hard-working mum, Kath, in the theatre’s hit production of The Kitchen Sink earlier this year.

Known for his high energy performances and audience involvement, Richard J Fletcher returns for his 10th Christmas at the Coliseum. This year Richard will be playing Buttons, a servant of the Baron who is secretly in love with Cinderella.

This year the Coliseum’s pantomime will have not one, but two Pantomime Dames playing the Ugly Sisters. Fine Time Fontayne has been the Coliseum’s beloved Pantomime Dame since 2008 and has lit up Oldham’s historic stage in previous productions of Mother Goose, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

Simeon Truby was the theatre’s hero of the hour in 2016, when he triumphantly stepped into the role of the Dame at short notice after Fine Time broke his ankle two weeks before the show opened. Originally cast to play the part of King Cuthbert, Simeon was universally praised for his performance as Nanny Nutty throughout the nine-week run, despite having only a week and a half to rehearse the part.

Fine Time is also the co-writer of the theatre’s annual pantomime, alongside the theatre’s Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Kevin Shaw. Despite being unable to perform in Sleeping Beauty, he was already working on the script for last year’s pantomime, Dick Whittington. Dick Whittington saw the return of Fine Time to the Coliseum stage, with Simeon playing the villain, King Rat, and delivering a crowd pleasing rendition of Rat out of Hell (Meatloaf’s Bat of out Hell).

Treading the Coliseum’s boards for the first time this Christmas the theatre welcomes John Afzal, who will be playing the Baron, Cbeebies presenter Nisha Anil, who will be adding a touch of magic as the Fairy/Dandini, and Chante Faucher, who will be playing Prince Charming.

The Coliseum’s traditional pantomime has been entertaining families of Oldham and beyond for generations. Each year the theatre serves up the perfect panto recipe – excellent actors, singers and dancers dishing out the very best in traditional fun that’s great for kids and not-so-grown-up grown-ups. Add some music, songs and slapstick, plus a sprinkling of fairy dust for the perfect Christmas celebration.

Cinderella runs at Oldham Coliseum Theatre from Saturday 10 November 2018 – Saturday 12 January 2019.