The cast for this year’s Beauty and the Beast pantomime at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds arrived in town yesterday ready for rehearsals.

East Anglian Daily Times: Panto cast arrive at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds.Panto cast arrive at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds.

Eamonn Fleming is this year’s dame – Molly Muffintop – and the show will be directed by the Theatre Royal’s artistic director Karen Simpson.

“It’s fantastic to welcome the cast to Bury St Edmunds – we’re already working hard on creating another fantastic show,” she said yesterday.

The first show is on Friday, December 2, and the panto runs until Sunday, January 15.

Chris Hannon, who has penned CBeebies’ Topsy and Tim, has written the family pantomime.

East Anglian Daily Times: Helen Slade and Eamonn Fleming in costumeHelen Slade and Eamonn Fleming in costume (Image: Keith Mindham)

Also in the cast this year is Bury actress Helen Slade, who recently graduated from drama school and is making her professional stage debut as Vera.

Returning to the cast from last year’s pantomime are Louise Olley as Belle and Leonie Spilsbury as Fairy Blossom.

Alongside them, Martin Neely stars as Sir Kenneth Branflakes, Sebastian Hill plays the Beast and Michael Lapham completes the cast as Barney Muffintop.

For tickets and more details call the theatre’s box office on 01284 769505 or visit www.theatreroyal.org