THERE may be nine months to go but Lighthouse Poole has announced its Christmas pantomime. 

Sleeping Beauty will be directed and written by CBeebies star, Chris Jarvis. 

Chris has written and directed several pantomimes for Lighthouse in the past including 2023's Aladdin and Cinderella in 2022 which was nominated for UK panto awards for best pantomime. 

Chris said: “It’s a real thrill to be coming back to Poole with a classic fairy tale that’s filled with fun and magic the whole family will love.

"The Poole audience is so warm and generous, and every year the challenge is to top the year before, so we’ll make sure we’ve got all the traditional feel-good panto fun with loads of jokes and plenty of local references.”

Like most pantomimes, Chris promises to play on the traditional sleeping beauty tale with the story due to see Princess Rose sent to live on Brownsea Island to return to the castle on the eve of her 18th birthday.

As the story unfolds, the audience will be introduced to the bumbling King, the zany Nanny Nutkins and court jester Happy Harry. 

Chris added: “We’re so excited to be planning the show already.

“Sleeping Beauty will be a real spectacle with great movement, incredible lights and brilliant music that mixes hits and classic disco – a real feast for the eyes and ears.

“All of which is key to the Poole pantomime, but the story is really important as well, particularly with Sleeping Beauty because you have to have a real baddie in Carabosse, a determined Prince and a Princess who is never a victim. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Sleeping Beauty will run between Thursday, December 12 and Sunday, January 5. 

Casting announcements are due to follow in coming months with tickets now on sale at Lighthouse website.