Regular panto Dame Fine Time Fontayne returns to the Oldham Coliseum panto this year after an accident during rehearsals forced him to pull out last year.
The Coliseum's Christmas pantomime, usually the first in the country to open, is this year based on the story of Dick Whittington with Fontayne, who also co-writes with director Kevin Shaw, joined by Simeon Truby, who filled in for him as Dame last year, as King Rat plus Richard J Fletcher returning to his regular Comic role as Idle Billy Suet and Liz Carney as Fairy Nell—amongst other roles.
Also in this year's cast are Ralph Birtwell as Sir Ivo Fitzwarren, Shorelle Hepkin as Alice Fitzwarren, Miley Rose as Tommy the Cat and Nina Shadi as Dick Whittington. Design is by Celia Perkins.
The production runs from 11 November 2017 to 13 January 2018.