by Angela Cole

It may be 19 weeks to Christmas, but preparations are already under way in Pantoland.

The magical tale of Aladdin will be brought to life at the Hazlitt Theatre this festive season, and organisers promise it will be one of the biggest and most magical shows to come to Maidstone.

Dancing On Ice and Holby City heart throb Jeremy Edwards will be leading the cast.

The show is being staged by Blue Genie Entertainment. Gary Telfer from the company said: "We are thrilled to be bringing one of the most popular pantomimes, Aladdin, to Maidstone. It promises to be the biggest and most magical pantomime ever staged there.

"We have an exceptional cast this year I think. There will be someone to appeal to everyone."

The show, which starts on Saturday, December 3, is to have an extended run this year, after sell-out performances last year.

Alongside Jeremy in the title role will be Emmerdale and Sky TV’s Dream Team star Sapphire Elia, who made her West End debut at the tender age of 10 in Les Miserables.

Gary Damer, who plays Lenny in BBC children’s drama Hotel Trubble, will play Wishy Washy.

Theatre manager Mandy Hare said: "This really is an exciting line-up this Christmas.

"We have an amazing cast – it will be interesting to see how the public reacts to them. We have an extremely long run this year as last year we had a waiting list of people wanting to get in, so we have extended by a week."

The show is being supported by the KM Group.

For details visit www.maidstonepanto.co.uk