THE countdown to Christmas will begin on Monday, December 1st as the curtains come up on this year's pantomime at The Swan Theatre.

Families are promised a magical time with The Worcester Repertory Company's production of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast.

Ben Humphrey will be donning the brightly coloured wigs and outlandish clothing to play Dame Do Do while Natalie Cawley will be transformed into the clever and beautiful Belle.

Stepping on to the stage at The Swan for the first time will be newcomer Jonny Muir who takes the lead roles of the Prince and Beast.

Jonny trained at the Royal Academy of Music Musical Theatre School and has had a wealth of experience in theatre and dance.

The popular tale of Beauty and the Beast follows the adventures of the delightful Belle and her hapless father, whose lives become intertwined with that of the Beast who was formerly a sneary Prince who has had a spell cast over him by the wicked Fairy Delores, played by Liz Grand.

She will only release him from the spell if he can make someone fall in love with him before the last petal falls from a symbolic red rose.

Count down with Belle and her friends as the petals fall one by one and it becomes a race against time to help the Beast find love before the spell becomes irreversible.

If he fails, the Prince will be gone forever and the beast doomed to loneliness and misery for the rest of his days.

Top quality singing, dancing and comedy will delight the audience and, alongside the usual panto banter and audience participation, it will put the audience in the festive spirit.

Tickets start at £10.75 and are available by calling 01905 611427 or online at theswantheatre.co.uk.

Beauty and The Beast runs until Sunday, January 4.