A NEW pantomime to warm your heart this Christmas opens at The Mayflower tonight.

Santa Claus (Roy Barraclough) faces his toughest challenge ever, to save the World with the help of his magical Chief of Elves (Stephen Mulhern).

Many centuries ago, the evil Jack Frost (Robin Cousins) was banished and imprisoned deep within the glaciers of the North Pole. Each winter, as the ground freezes and turns white, he attempts to escape his prison and relinquish his frozen shackles.

With the onset of global warming, Jack Frost and his evil henchman Thaw – The Glaciator (Sam Bond), manage to escape and return to wreak havoc on mankind during the festive season. There is only one man (with a little help from his team of elves) who can stop Frosts’ evil plan.

Santa Claus and the Return of Jack Frost is full of laughter, slapstick, snowball fights, ice skating, a spectacular flying ice dragon and some familiar festive songs accompanied by a full orchestra.

Olympic gold medallist turned theatrical star and TV judge Robin Cousins MBE (pictured) is the show’s ice star.

He told Scene South: “The ice is quite special and is put on stage in a specific way to allow us to travel and have fun with it.

“But I can’t allow myself to have too much fun! I know it’s not like Shakespeare, but it really is a spectacular show and we want to do it justice.

“As soon as I finish in Southampton I will be up at Elstree sitting behind a desk judging people on Dancing on Ice, so this is the audience’s chance to see whether I’m up to scratch!

“I’m thrilled to get the chance to expend my energy on stage again. We’re all very excited about it.”

For an interview with another star of the show, TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, turn to page 33.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk.