Felixstowe’s long-running pantomime will return to the Spa Pavilion theatre this year, marking the show’s 50th anniversary, the venue’s new owners have announced.

The Dennis Lowe Theatre Company will be back treading the boards three years after they were the last group on stage when the 913-seater venue had its final night before closing.

Ray Anderson, chief executive of Spa owners NRG Theatres said: “As soon as we signed contracts for the Spa we began looking through past performances to see which of the previous shows worked financially and were important to the people of Felixstowe.

“Our aim was always to create some events as quickly as possible after the period of refurbishment which will follow legal completion of our purchase on May 15.

“We were especially keen to retain shows with a community or local involvement, and discussions are ongoing for several others.

“It is especially fitting however that our first contract is with Suzie Lowe, who, thanks to her father, Dennis, has been involved with The Spa almost from birth.”

The Dennis Lowe Theatre Company will present Cinderella from December 19 to January 3.

Suzie Lowe, who will produce and direct the panto, is particularly pleased to be going back to the Spa Pavilion.

She said: “This is a great year for us to do a show as had the Spa not closed, this would have been our 50th pantomime there as a family.

“However, this year’s production will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Dennis Lowe, my father, creating the Spa’s panto, and will be our 48th year of actually putting on the event.

“This obviously couldn’t have happened without the support of the people of Felixstowe and we very much hope they will support us again this year to help welcome the Spa back to life. For our part, we are very excited by the plans of NRG Theatres and are busy working on new sets, scripts and a topical twist to the Cinderella story.”