The Lowry gears up for Christmas

Oh God. It’s only September and already the soap stars are packing themselves into little tights and practising their best ‘oh no it isn’t!’ face.

First up this year on the panto trail is the Lowry, who will be delighting us all this Christmas with their production of Aladdin. Last week the cast was announced, and dressed up like Christmas trees to indulge Manchester’s press.

Coronation Street’s Bill Ward who plays psycho boyfriend Charlie Stubbs, will continue his reign of terror - but this time as Aladdin’s enemy Abanazer, who I think is even more evil than Charlie. He certainly has a much more obvious evilness about him – if Charlie Stubbs had worn this outfit in the Rovers’ Return then poor Shelley would probably have been wise to him from the start.

But it doesn’t stop there. Stepping into the pointy shoes of the Genie this Christmas will be Emmerdale’s Cleveland Campbell (Danny Daggert), while playing the beautiful Yasmin will be Casey-Lee Jolleys, who apparently used to play somebody called Orchid in Coronation Street. I must have been on holiday that week.

The cast all look fab, and will no doubt be the source of much ‘boo hiss-ing’ and ‘he’s behind you-ing’ over the months to come.

Tickets are now on sale, with up to two children going half price with every full priced adult ticket.

For tickets, call 0870 787 5793 or book online via www.thelowry.com