A BAND of merry men are bringing the laughs to the stage this Christmas with a glut of adventures and magical surprises.

Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, promises to entertain all the family with its tale of derring-do and the dashing hero of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood.

CBBC’s Ed Petrie (All Over the Place, Marrying Mum and Dad) returns to Poole to play the titular role opposite Patrick O’Kane (Jamaica Inn) as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

Ed is well-known to children and parents for starring alongside Oucho the Cactus in the CBBC series Transmission Impossible with Ed and Oucho and Ed and Oucho’s Excellent Inventions.

He is joined by Tom Bright as Friar Tuck, who also writes and directs the Lighthouse panto for the third year running.

The show is on now and runs until Sunday, January 4.

A relaxed performance, appropriate for people with special needs such as autism or learning difficulties, takes place tomorrow at 1.30pm.

Call the box office on 0844 406 8666 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk.