Don’t panic! The writer of the Sergeant’s Mess panto has been busy at work devising the plot for next year’s production, Dad’s Barmy.

Former Royal Marine musician Brian Short has put the finishing touches to the script and now the cast is working on a date for the first read through.

Mr Short, who resurrected the popular Sergeant’s Mess panto tradition in 2012 said: “It’s not Dad’s Army as you all know it, but there will be some familiar characters.”

In the last four years, audiences have chuckled at the artistic licence he has applied to well-loved family favourites.

His tongue-in-cheek humour has seen sell out performances of The Wizard Who’s Odd (January 2013), Skinderella (2014), Pirates of the Curried Beans (2015) and The Sound of Muesli (2016).

With Dad’s Barmy, Mr Short urges audiences to leave behind their preconceived ideas of the much-loved TV hit and join the troops of the Home Guard for a few hours of mayhem – all in the name of charity.

Borrowing characters from such a popular show was always going to be “quite a responsibility” he said, but panto fans know what to expect by now – expect the unexpected.

“It’s that age old story of when Winston Churchill visits Deal and gets kidknapped by the Japanese,” he teased.

The Sergeant’s Mess panto has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Royal Marines Charity and local good causes.

Its work is made possible thanks to a committee which looks after admin, publicity and the huge amounts of cash that is raised.

Valued volunteers include wives and partners who work back stage and at the front of house, including Mr Short’s wife Vanessa.

As artistic director, Mr Short takes charge of all things creative. It is testament to them all because every show has been a sell out.

A carnival float will promote the forthcoming show at Deal Carnival on Thursday, July 28.

Tickets for Dad’s Barmy will go on sale around October.

The run of 12 nightly shows takes place from Tuesday, January 3, to Saturday, January 14, 2017, at the Astor Theatre, Stanhope Road, Deal.