Maidstone's panto stars - Sky1 Gladiator Doom; Holly Matthews, star of Waterloo Road and Byker Grove; Aaron Sidwell, who played Steven Beale in EastEnders.

by Alan Smith

Aaron Sidwell, best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders, will swap Albert Square for Earl Street in Maidstone’s panto offering this year.

Beale will play Prince Charming in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and will be joined on stage by Sky1 Gladiator Doom and by Holly Matthews, star of Waterloo Road and Byker Grove.

It will be only the second collaboration between the Hazlitt Arts Centre and panto producers New World Productions. The Kent Messenger is the official media partner of the pantomime.

Company director, Gary Telfer, said: “We are delighted to return this year for what promises to be a really spectacular pantomime. We have some magic up our sleeves and we promise the audience are going to love it.”

The panto will also feature local funnyman Tom Swift in the role of Muddles.

Maidstone council’s cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Brian Moss (Con), said: “It’s going to be a terrific show. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is always a favourite with the whole family.”

Ticket prices start at £6.50. The panto will run from December 5 to January 10 and all tickets bought before October 1 will get a reduced rate of £1 off.

For more information call the Hazlitt Arts Centre box office on 01622 758611 or log on to www.hazlittartscentre.co.uk