AN ACTION-PACKED magical carpet ride filled with adventure, glittering costumes, special effects is promised when a north Durham theatre stages its annual pantomime this year.

Following record-breaking sales for their pantomime Snow White in 2013, The Empire Theatre in Consett will this year play host to Aladdin.

The production, written, directed and produced by Leah Bell, will be staged from December 5 to 31, in conjunction with Leisureworks - Derwentside’s Trust for Sport and the Arts.

Joining the cast are firm favourites Harriet Povey as Princess Jasmine, David John Hopper as The Genie, urban dance duo Bionik Funk as the hilarious Royal Guardsmen, Lee Brannigan as the flamboyant Dame Widow Twankey and Ben Johnson as The Sultan.

Ms Bell will also star in the pantomime, in the role of Franny the Fortune Teller.

Joining the cast this year is Jordan Todd who will take on the role of Aladdin. Mr Todd hails from the North-East and has just completed a three-year course at Italia Conti School of Performing Arts in London, where he won the Student of the Year Musical Theatre Award.

He has also appeared in several musicals, including Our House – The Madness Musical.

After touring nationwide with Leah Bell and Crissy Rock in the smash hit comedy Dirty Dusting, written by North-East playwrights Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, Jason Jones returns to the Empire for the 2014 pantomime season in role of the evil Jafaar.

Tickets are priced at £14 and £12 for concessions.

Discounts for schools, groups and families are available. Thousands of tickets have already been sold. Contact 01207 218 171 or book online at www.leisureworks.net.