Dick Whittington & His Cat panto launches at the Hazlitt Threatre in Maidstone

Additional reporting by Meghan Shaw

The annual panto in Maidstone promises to take audiences on a “fabulously fun-filled adventure”.

This year, the Hazlitt Theatre will be putting on a production of Dick Whittington & His Cat.

Cast members include Jared Leathwood as Dick Whittington, Stuart Ash as Bruno Meows, Eleanor Sandars as Queen Rat, Caitlin Garcia as Alice Fitzwarren, Sarah Rose Denton as Fairy Bowbells, and Christopher Chandler as Alderman Fitzwarren.

The production, which comes in the theatre’s 70th year, promises a “fabulously fun-filled adventure” with “lots of family fun, plenty of slapstick comedy and new 3D effects”.

Joe Meloy, who will be playing Sherie Trifle, said: “She's obviously fabulous.

“Sherie will come on and have a bit of fun. She has a trifling matter, if you will.

“I love playing the dame. I've been a dame for the past 14 years.

“This is my fourth year here at Hazlitt as well. It's like a home away from home

“I've wanted to be a dame since I was three, and I'm now 30 years old, so there we go.

“For someone in that crowd, it is their first time in a theatre, and that to me is magic. Everything that's going on on stage, they absolutely believe.

“It's so fabulous to see all these new faces coming in to watch in the theatre for the very first time.

“I love everything about the panto, but that moment for me is really special.”

Emmanuel Duarte, who is playing Idle Jack in this year’s production, said: “It's going to be quite a doozy, a little bit of mischief, but also a little bit of laziness.

“From the little bits and bobs that I've been able to incorporate already, it's already been very, very fun.”

To keep things appealing to newer audiences, he says they will include “a balance of bringing in new elements” from pop culture, while also “giving the counterpoint of having the old traditional story”.

He added: “Bring your child, bring your mother, bring your grandmother, bring your great-grandmother's aunt twice removed. Everyone is welcome.”

The panto is being directed by Martin Cleverley and there will be school and British Sign Language (BSL) showings in December.

This year, the theatre’s nominated pantomime charity is Wisteria Cat Rescue. Donations can be made here.

Tickets for the show are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Dick Whittington & His Cat opens on Saturday, November 29, and runs until Wednesday, December 31.