PANTO stars recently caused a good-natured ruckus in Worcester, as they joined in with a festival parade.

The stars of this year’s Swan Theatre Pantomime brought the ‘festive’ to the Worcester Festival, over the last Bank Holiday weekend, as Cinderella and all of her friends joined the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers Band in a parade through Worcester’s High Street.

A spokesman said: "What better way is there to hold the launch of the Swan Theatre’s hugely popular professional pantomime.

"Heads were turned by the Worcester Repertory Company’s full Cinderella cast, who set off with the band from the Elgar statue, parading along the High Street, at quite a lick, all the way to The Guildhall."

The spokesman added: "The cast members then proceeded to entertain the crowds, who had gathered in their hundreds, while the band continued to play.

"Cinderella, Prince Charming, Baron Hardup, Dandini and the Ugly Sisters delighted those that had turned out in their droves for the event, posing for selfies with the little and not-so-little ones, handing out gold and silver balloons galore, and generally causing a stir wherever they went with their fabulous costumes and panto pizzazz."

A favourite was the Swan Theatre’s renowned panto dame, Ben Humphrey, who returns to star in this year’s production as Fairy Godmother.

The spokesman added: "She was everywhere at once – in and out of shops, singing happy birthdays, trying her best to blag a free ice cream from the High Street vendor, and seeking out the hunky gentlemen of Worcester wherever she could find them."

Gemma Martyn Smith, the Swan Theatre’s Marketing Manager added: “It was a great spectacle – this year’s costumes are truly spectacular; and there was a really fantastic atmosphere in town. Cinderella is one of the most magical of fairy tales, and this year’s production promises all of the glitter, sparkle and magic that you could hope for.

Cast members include Lucy-Jane Quinlan as Cinderella, James Edge as Prince Charming, Jamie Kwasnik as Dandini, Rob Leetham as Baron Hardup, Sam Patrick as Buttons, Claire Worboys and Liz Grand as Ugly Sisters Bellatrix and Delores, and Ben Humphrey as Ginny the Fairy Godmother

Tickets are already on sale for the production, which runs from December 5 through to the January 8 at the Swan Theatre.

For further details contact 01905 611427 or visit www.theswantheatre.co.uk