PINOCCHIO

IT’S straight from the West End to Hedge End for one Pinocchio star as the former lead in Billy Elliot the Musical appears in this year’s Christmas show at the Berry Theatre.

Enter a world of temptation and magic when a classic tale is recreated for the young and the young at heart.

The much-loved story of Pinocchio tells of a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real living boy.

Audience members can expect a production packed with magical characters, cartwheels, circus antics and dollops of fun for all the family.

But like the eponymous character they will also learn a valuable lesson because to make his dream come true, Pinocchio has to learn to be good and being good isn’t always easy.

Taking on the lead role for the production is Fox Jackson- Keen.

The young actor hails from London and appeared as Billy for more than two years as well as taking a leading role in CITV’s My Phone Genie. More recently he performed in the stage version of the Philip Pullman novel I Was A Rat.

Two former Jonathan Creek actors, Winchester based Ben Craze and Fraser Burrows will also appear in the show, directed by Owen Calvert-Lyons, artistic director at The Berry and sister venue The Point in Eastleigh.

The adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s original runs from Thursday to Christmas Eve.

THE PICKWICK PAPERS

A NEW adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic The Pickwick Papers at Basingstoke’s Haymarket stars former Eastender Dean Gaffney.

John D Collins of ‘Allo ‘Allo fame, Rebecca Wheatley, best known as the receptionist in Casualty, popular Ian Dickens actor David Callister and respected stage and screen actor Richard Ta te also appear in the show, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday.

The Pickwick Papers follows the eccentric journey of Samuel Pickwick as he travels around the country in 1827, attempting to use his massive brain to ‘observe human nature’ for the greater good of mankind.

Accompanied by his friend, the hapless Nathaniel Winkle, and his cockney manservant, Sam Weller, Pickwick runs into a multitude of colourful personalities along the way.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

A STAR-studded version of Sleeping Beauty is the traditional family pantomime at Southsea’s Kings Theatre this Christmas.

Danniella Westbrook, best known as Samantha Mitchell in Eastenders will play Fairy Sparkle. She also appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2003 and Dancing on Ice in 2010.

2012 X Factor finalist Christopher Maloney will sweep Sleeping Beauty, played by Helen Kent, off her feet as the Prince.

Returning to the Kings is Home and Away star Lynne McGranger to play the villain everyone loves to hate wicked fairy godmother Carabosse.

Tony Adams who played Adam Chance in Crossroads is also returning and will be King Egbert the Oval.

Sleeping Beauty opens on Monday and runs to Sunday January 5.