THE Everyman's traditional family pantomime this year is local favourite, Dick Whittington, the only panto based on a true story.

The show is packed full of thrills, spills and mayhem, as we follow our hero on his journey to become Lord Mayor and marry the girl of his dreams. With a streetwise cat as his companion, Dick defeats the evil Queen Rat, sails to far-away lands and underwater kingdoms, finds his fortune, marries Alice and becomes Lord Mayor. This is the purrrrfect Christmas show! The cast includes many familiar faces from past shows, including William Elliott as the Dame, Sarah the Cook and Principal Boy, Kelli Maybank as Dick Whittington - and this year the Everyman is delighted to welcome Tweedy the Clown, fresh from touring the county over the summer with Giffords Circus.

The show is on now until January 13 and is sure to be the cat's whiskers! Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, www.everymantheatre.org.uk