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Video: Panto cast warm up
for this year's performances.

by Katie Alston

A fantastic evening of family
fun is promised at this year’s £1 million Marlowe panto Robin
Hood.

The star-studded cast descended on
Canterbury this week to start rehearsals, with writer, producer and
co-director Paul Hendy declaring them to be 'genuinely the best and
most talented cast’ in the Marlowe’s 28-year panto history.

The production takes to the stage
of Kingsmead’s Marlowe Panto Arena on Saturday, December 4 and
comedy actor John Thomson will be bracing himself for a barrage of
boos as he takes on the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

It is the second time the bearded
Northerner, best known for his part in hit ITV series Cold Feet,
has tackled the gruelling schedule that comes with pantomime.

He said: “It's hard graft but good
fun, and I love the fact that there is room to play around with
it.”

“I’m hoping to be able to put some
of my own comedy and jokes into the production, and the cast have
been gelling well so far.

“It is all really exciting and
looks as if it is going to be a brilliant panto.”

Despite turning down Strictly Come Dancing
every year and not wanting to take on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of
Here, the opportunity to do pantomime was too good to turn
down.

He added: “It was my friend Joe
Pasquale who put me in touch with Paul, as I really wanted to do
panto this year.

“Hopefully he and some of my other
friends who are actors will be able to come along and see the
show."

Marlowe panto veteran Dave Lee will
be appearing in the show, along with the famous bench gag, and
dwarf actor Phil Holden from Shatterling, playing Big John, and
Katie Birtill taking the role of Maid Marion.

Sid Sloane, presenter on children's
television station CBeebies, plays the lead role.

Read more reaction and see
more pictures in this week's Kentish Gazette.