CHRISTMAS panto season is well underway at St Helens Theatre Royal, with full houses and fabulous feedback for Aladdin.

The Star’s photographer Dave Gillespie visited the Corporation Street theatre ahead of opening night and took a number of photos showing the cast and crew rehearsing.

The pictures capture the life of the theatre and its cast – including former TOWIE stars Amy Childs and Harry Derbridge – from angles audience members don’t usually get to see.

Theatre manager and Aladdin director Chantelle Nolan said that the cast and crew had been rehearsing for 12 hours a day in the week before the first performance, adding that behind the seemingly effortless fun and laughter were hours and hours of hard work and planning.

The panto is on until January 8, 2017. To book, visit the box office, call 75600 or go to sthelenstheatreroyal.com.