PETER PAN Opens at St Helens Theatre Royal

Christmas has officially arrived in St Helens as Regal Entertainments' panto, Peter Pan, flies in to St Helens Theatre Royal opening to rave reviews from the public and press.

Peter Pan will be entertaining audiences right across the holiday season until Sunday 13 January and the production features an all-star cast including Coronation Street and Brookside's Louis Emerick who is guaranteed to have audiences hooked as Captain Hook.

Joining Louis is special guest star, Strictly Come Dancing's Kristina Rihanoff who appears as the loveable but mischievous fairy, Tinker Bell.

The full cast also includes Lewis Devine; Georgina Parkinson; Abigail Middleton and Si Foster.

Best known for his portrayal of Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and his recurring role of PC Walsh in Last of the Summer Wine, Liverpool born Louis Emerick is no stranger to the St Helens stage after appearing in the 2013 production of The Ciggie Run. Louis plays series regular Herman in UKTV's Zapped, which returns for a third series this Autumn, and recently joined the cast of Coronation Street as Mike Thornberry, a role which he will be reprising this November.

A highly accomplished and critically acclaimed stage actor his other theatre credits include A Little Pinch of Chilli (Liverpool Everyman), On the Ledge (Royal Court, Liverpool) and Elf the Musical (Theatre Royal, Plymouth & The Lowry, Salford). He is also touring the UK playing Horse in the current National Tour of the smash hit stage show The Full Monty.

Waltzing onto the stage is BBC's Strictly Come Dancing star, Kristina Rihanoff is spreading glamour and fairy dust in her role as Tinker Bell.

A world finalist professional ballroom dancer, instructor and choreographer, she joined BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2008-2015, reaching the final in 2011 with actor and singer Jason Donavan and again in 2014 with singer Simon Webbe. She visited the Theatre Royal earlier this year as part of her UK tour Dance To The Music.

After causing mayhem aplenty last Christmas as Muddles, and as Buttons in Easter's Cinderella, St Helens favorite Lewis Devine is flying high as he stars as the boy who never grew up - Peter Pan.

She found her Prince Charming in Easter's Cinderella and now the delightful Georgina Parkinson returns to the Theatre Royal stage as Wendy Darling. Her other theatre credits include the UK and Ireland tours of Billy Elliot, Shrek The Musical and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

As Tiger Lily is new cast addition Abigail Middleton, and of course, no St Helens Theatre Royal panto would be complete without its resident dame, the hilarious Si Foster who is up to his usual comedy capers as Mrs Smee.

Chantelle Nolan, Theatre Manager said: "What an incredible opening week we have had! There has been an overwhelmingly positive response and feedback from audiences, which is always lovely to hear, and a testament to the hard work all the cast and creative team have invested in the production.

"We have real flying, pyrotechnics, special effects, including the return of a brand new 3-D scene which is proving very popular; there really is something for all the family to enjoy, so why not join us in Neverland this Christmas!"

With a sprinkling of fairy dust get ready to join Wendy, John and Michael as they leave St Helens behind, flying past the second star to the right and straight to Neverland, to enjoy daring adventures battling the evil Captain Hook and his hapless henchman.

The action will once again jump right off the stage - get ready to be amazed with the welcome return of the magical interactive 3D scene, which proved to be a highlight for audiences during last year's production of Snow White.

Get set to go on a swashbuckling adventure full of Pirates, Fairies, Lost Boys, Indians, and of course one tick-tocking crocodile, in this timeless classic tale about the Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Peter Pan is open now and runs until Sunday 13th January 2019

For more information, please visit: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com