THE CAST of a Pickering pantomime are preparing to go under the sea for their performance of The Little Mermaid.

Pickering Musical Society will perform at the Kirk Theatre, bringing the production written by member Ron Hall to life.

It is the second year that Luke Arnold has directed the society’s pantomime following the success of his debut last year with The Snow Queen.

Set in the kingdom of Denmark, Marina the mermaid, played by Courtney Brown, princess and daughter of Queen Neptune (Jess Hebron) rescues the Crown Prince Stefan from a shipwreck and falls in love with him.

She manages to persuade Octavia the evil Octopus to give her human legs in exchange for her beautiful voice.

Audiences will once again see society stalwart Marcus Burnside playing Queen Hypochondria together with her henpecked husband King Marmaduke played by Colin Wragg.

Colin has performed many times with Pickering Musical Society but this will be his pantomime debut.

Danielle Long will again take the role of principal boy together with Stephen Temple and Alice Rose reprising their comedy partnership as man servant to the prince and maid to the Queen.

An evil duet will be played by Niamh Rose and Fiona Rose and Maureen Symonds will again be the most wicked of characters.

The company are again supported by wonderful choreography and dancing from the Sarah Louise Ashworth School of Dance.

Pickering Musical Society is expecting another successful year, so much so that extra nights have been released to cope with demand.

  • The Little Mermaid runs from Friday, January 13 to Saturday, January 21. Tickets are available from the box office on 01751-474833 or www.kirktheatre.co.uk.