CHRISTMAS has officially arrived in St Helens with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs being performed at Theatre Royal.

This year’s panto opened on Saturday, December 2, and has had an incredible response, receiving rave reviews.

The show will be entertaining audiences throughout the festive season.

Producers announced last week they were extending the show’s run due to overwhelming demand.

Five additional shows are now on sale, with the final performance on Sunday, January 14.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs tells the story of a beautiful, kind-hearted girl and a jealous queen who will do anything to be named the fairest in the land ahead of her.

The stellar cast is led by former Wild at Heart and Coronation Street actress Lucy-Jo Hudson as Snow White.

She recently competed in the ITV show Dance, Dance, Dance, reaching the final, and won Villain of the Year at the 2017 British Soap Awards for her performance in BBC1 soap Doctors.

Revealing who is the fairest of them all, comedy favourite and St Helens’ own Johnny Vegas appears via video projection as the face and voice of the magic mirror.

Meanwhile LIPA graduate Jack Rigby, who appeared in the Theatre Royal’s 2015 Cinderella panto, is back on stage breaking hearts as the handsome prince.

Richard Hazlewood also returns after proving a big hit in the St Helens Easter panto Beauty and the Beast. This time he is Herman the Henchman, while Lewis Devine provides lots of jovial hilarity as Muddles.

Theatre Royal’s resident dame Si Foster returns to take on the role of the Wicked Queen. And completing the all-star cast is the addition of seven real-life dwarfs, including mother and son Harry Potter actors Josh Bennett and Sarah Bennett, Danny Blackner who appeared in box office hits Star Wars VI - Return of The Jedi, Labyrinth and Muppet Treasure Island, Lucy Blenkiron, Jay Lusted who appeared in the BBC One Wales documentary Born Small: The Wedding, Charlotte Lyons, and finally, Peter Sunter.

Chantelle Nolan, theatre manager, said: “Wow, what an incredible week! Since we opened we have had an amazing response – everyone seems to be loving it.

“I honestly think it is our strongest panto yet. There really is something for everyone, the 3-D scene is proving very popular especially with the little ones and there is plenty of laughs for the adults too.

“We have seen such demand this year we decided to extend the run., and have added another five shows between January 12-14 , so there is even more opportunity for you to come along!”

With a fantastic 3-D interactive scene, real life dwarfs, magic mirrors, wicked queens and poisoned apples aplenty, audiences can expect all the usual fun and slapstick comedy capers all Regal Entertainments’ pantos are known for.

n Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs until Sunday, January 14. Tickets are priced from £11. For more information visit sthelenstheatreroyal.com, call 01744 756000 or pop into St Helens Theatre Royal.