RIVAL panto productions are due to take place streets from each other - and prove whether a North Yorkshire town is big enough for two dames.

Northallerton Amateur Variety Company has staged pantomimes with local actors in the town's Forum theatre since the group was formed 1979.

This year it will be staging Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates but has discovered it may have some pantomime rivalry a few streets away in the shape of Dick Whittington, who will be heading to the town hall with his cat for a three week run from December 15 this year.

The second pantomime is being staged by AJ Productions, which teaches young people performing arts skills at stage schools in Northallerton and Middlesbrough, as well as through other projects.

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With both pantomimes now cast and venues booked, it looks to some like a panto war could be heading to the town.

Oh no it isn’t, says Maureen Willoughby, who says “she doesn’t want a battle” between the two productions. However, she added that she doesn’t want people confusing the two separate shows.

The company's pantomimes raise thousands for local charities every year, recently raising money for the Friarage hospital's scanner appeal and a hydrotherapy pool at The Dales School.

“I was told quite a few people were querying why we had moved to the town hall, so I wanted everyone to know our pantomime was at The Forum as usual,” she said.

“Our problem is that after 36 years of doing a panto in Northallerton we understand there is another one moving into town to perform for three weeks and that the public think that it is us and we are moving venues from The Forum to the Town Hall.

“We know we have not a divine right to be the only panto in town but over the past 36 years we have given a lot of money to local charities and it would be awful if people who thought they were supporting us and local charities went to the wrong one.”

AJ Productions’ Dick Whittington includes two casts of dancers who are training with a professional choreographer until December, as well as principal characters taken from local young performers from the region.

Their production will be at Northallerton Town Hall from December 15 until January 2.

A spokesman for AJ Academy of Performing Arts said it had nothing but respect for the amateur society and said its show would represent "a fantastic opportunity to see two shows this year".

He said: "We will be in the audience cheering them along in January. Dates for pantomimes will not clash, meaning you can enjoy both performances.

"AJ Productions truly believes the more theatre we have In town the better it will be for the local community and local businesses as we will be bringing new audiences from Northallerton and surrounding areas.

"Dick Whittington will give local children from our stage schools an opportunity to perform with our professional and talented cast."

To book your tickets for Dick Whittington, visit ajproductions.tv or call 07756-813935.

Northallerton Variety Company will be staging Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates at the Forum in Northallerton from January 24 until 30, 2016. Booking details will be released in October. There will be three matinee performances, two on Sunday, January 24 and one on Saturday, January 30.