THE stars of this year’s Anvil pantomime Sleeping Beauty came to Basingstoke this week for a special photoshoot to publicise the 2010 Christmas show.

Sleeping Beauty and her Prince, Silly Billy and the Good and Bad Fairies dropped in to town on Tuesday to don their panto outfits and have their official pictures taken for this year’s Gazette Newspapers-sponsored show, which is on at The Anvil from December 9 until January 2.

The traditional family show stars BAFTA Award-winning actress Wendy Craig, who has just finished filming a second series of comedy Reggie Perrin for BBC1, as the Good Fairy. Her nemesis, the Wicked Fairy. will be played by Abi Titmuss.

It will be the pantomime debut for the versatile young actress, who starred in a production of The Naked Truth at The Haymarket last year.

Abi said: “It’s great to be coming back. I am nervous but mostly I’m excited – it’s going to be so much fun.

“There’s going to be animation, I’m going to be turning into a fire-breathing dragon and I get to fly, so there are incredible special effects.”

Children’s favourite Andrew Agnew – known to young audiences as PC Plum in CBeebies’ award-winning show Balamory – is looking forward to singing and setting the crowd giggling as Silly Billy.

Playing the romantic leads are Shaun Daulton, who has had several panto appearance as the Prince, and Sarah Day as Sleeping Beauty. Sarah, who is originally from Basingstoke, will also be choreographing the show.

Michael Chance will play the King and Nick Wilton stars as dame Nurse Nelly. Teams of talented young dancers from Kelly Hopkins Theatre Arts and Basingstoke Academy of Dance will be joining the chorus.

More information about the show, tickets and group bookings is available by calling Anvil Arts on 01256 844244 or going online to anvilarts.org.uk.