HEIGH-ho, heigh-ho it’s off to work they go for this year’s pantomime cast.

As is tradition, cast members have got into the spirit of Christmas a few months in advance at the Anvil, trying on their costumes and meeting their follow cast members.

This year the Anvil will be playing host to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Gazette was invited along to a launch event with the stars of the show on Tuesday.

In full costume and make-up, one does get in the mood for Christmas, but for the director of this year’s pantomime, Chris Pizzey, this is where the work starts, especially for him doubling up to play Snow White’s best friend Muddles.

He said: “People don’t see all the behind-the-scenes work that goes in to the production that is the final product.

“We are in the melting pot stage at the moment, and for me as the director it is great because this is where we get the ideas and we will sit down and have a bit meeting and hash them out.”

Taking the title role of Snow White is Dani Harmer, best known for playing Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series.

The 29-year-old is no stranger to pantomimes, with Snow White being one of the last princesses to tick off her list. But this year has added sentimental value.

She said: “I have a two-year-old and this is the first year that she will get to see mummy on stage, which is amazing.

“It might be the start of our own pantomime tradition. Either that or she’ll last two seconds before she starts crying!”

For the pantomime dame, Jamie Steen, this is his 25th year in pantoland.

“The key thing is that we get to introduce a lot of people to the theatre,” he said.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs at the Anvil from December 13 to January 6. For more details and tickets, go to anvilarts.org.uk/snow-white.