PANTO season may be some months away but the stars of this year’s showing in Malvern were in town to give people a sneak preview of what’s in store.

The panto at Malvern Theatres this Christmas is Sleeping Beauty and members of the cast were out and about in Priory Park showing off their costumes. Punk pop star and TV presenter Toyah Willcox is playing the bad fairy, a role she is really looking forward to.

“I love pantomime, this will be my 17th, and being the baddie is much more fun than being good,” she said. Her opposite number, the Good Fairy, is played by Australian singer and dancer Wendy Lee-Purdy.“It’s my first time in panto and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

“In the last few years I’ve played a lot of peasants. A fairy dress is a nice change.” When it comes to panto experience there are few actors with more experience than Charles Burden. He has played dames and ugly sisters many times in pantomimes all over the UK.

“It is all over the top and just lots of fun and children and mums and dads love it,” he said.

Mr Burden is responsible for his own amazing costumes and promises panto-goers a particularly spectacular Lady Gaga number complete with a white wig this year.

Younger children will recognise Derek Moran, who plays Silly Billy, as the presenter of popular children’s TV show Milkshake. The panto opens on Thursday, December 16, and runs until Sunday, January 9.