FINAL rehearsals are in full swing for a family pantomime – with the cast hoping for egg-cellent reviews.

Pickering Musical Society are this year performing Humpty Dumpty at the town's Kirk Theatre, written by Ron Hall and Luke Arnold.

The show is set in Nursery Rhyme Land the kingdom of Old King Cole and Queen Ribena played by society stalwarts Stephen Temple and Marcus Burnside. When the evil Baron Bluebeard arrives in the land to attend the birthday of Princess Crystal strange things begin to happen and culminate with the arrival of eternal winter.

The whole kingdom has to evacuate to Little-Frolicking-On-Sea the home of Old King Cole’s mother in law Mrs Cordial. While they are beside the seaside Humpty Dumpty, Simple Simon, Little Bo-Peep and Tommy Tucker hatch a plan to save Nursery Rhyme Land.

The 50-strong cast features dancers from the Sarah Louise Ashworth School of Dance.

Director Luke Arnold said “I can’t quite believe we are back to panto season so soon. Last year was a huge year for us as we marked our centenary at Pickering Musical Society and 2020 looks to be as busy. Each year I wonder how we can create something more spectacular and magical than the last but with an army of volunteers both on and off stage it seems 2020 will be more spectacular than ever.”

Pickering Musical Society and the Kirk Theatre are entirely self funded and everyone is a volunteer both on and off stage. Tickets are available at www.kirktheatre.co.uk.

Also available at Kirk Theatre Box Office on 01751-474833 and are priced from £13. The production runs from January 17 to 26 at 7.15pm with matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 2.15pm.