The cast of Peter Pan thrilled an audience at the Darlington Hippodrome as they opened their keenly-awaited festive run on Friday night. 

The cast of the pantomime includes panto legend Christopher Biggins who is playing Mrs Smee, James Hameed as Peter, Tegan Bannister as Tinkerbell, Sheri Lineham as Wendy, and Steve Arnott as Captain Hook.

Rehearsals began on Monday, November 28 at Centre Stage in Darlington, with a fast-paced rehearsal leading to the high-energy spectacle that is a Darlington Hippodrome pantomime.

This version of Peter Pan is not one audiences will be familiar with, although it contains all the favourite well-known characters.

The Northern Echo: The high-energy show stars panto legend Christopher Biggins The high-energy show stars panto legend Christopher Biggins (Image: Sarah Caldecott/Newsquest)

Read more: 'People want to have a good laugh': Biggins & cast start rehearsing Darlington panto

Christopher Biggins said: “I was thrilled to be asked to come back to Darlington but I was also nervous because the country is in such a terrible situation with ‘eating or heating’.

"But then I was told we’d so far taken over £155,000 more than last year so people really want to be here because at the end of the day, people want to have a good laugh.”

Peter Pan runs at Darlington Hippodrome until runs to Saturday, December 31.

Tickets are available via darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/The-Pantomime-Adventures-of-Peter-Pan or by clicking here.

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