Watch: He's behind you! Pontesbury Players put on Sleeping Beauty

Pontesbury Players have been putting on pantomime productions and delighting audiences every year since 1961 and this year they have decided to call their production "Wakey Wakey Sleeping Beauty".

Malcolm Whittall, writer and director, said this year's show is a twist on the original fairy tale.

He said: "We started rehearsals in November and we're now getting to the stage where the scenery is all done and people can put down their scripts.

"It is going to be a fun show for all the family.

"We are encouraging people to bring along loom bands as we are hopeful the audience will be able to help us with some spells. There will be everything you expect from a pantomime and much more."

Mr Whittall said he chose the tale of Sleeping Beauty as every few years the group takes on a classic.

He said: "We decided to hold the pantomime in January as we found that people tend to go to professional productions at Christmas.

"Everything happens in December and January is known as a month where things are quiet. So we decided to hold the panto then.

"Every so often we chose to do the bigger titles. And as Robinson Crusoe was our last production, we wanted to do a well-known panto this year. We really have a wide age range of people in the cast. The ages range from eight-year-olds to people in their 70s.

"We have a cast of roughly 20."

Wakey Wakey Sleeping Beauty will be performed in Pontesbury Public Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Shrewsbury, from Wednesday, January 28 until Saturday, January 31. All shows will be at 7.30pm apart from on January 31 there will be a 2.30pm matinee and an evening show.

Ticket prices go from £3 to £5 and can be purchased at Hignetts Shop, Pontesbury.

Meanwhile, The Little Theatre in Donnington, Telford, is putting the final touches to its production of Little Red Riding Hood, with performances on January 24, 25 and 31.

For further details call the box office on (01952) 407959.