It's not quite a whole new world for these panto veterans

THERE was plenty early festive cheer at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle as the stars of this year's pantomime offered a taste of what to expect in what is a special anniversary year.

- By BARBARA HODGSON

Father and son Clive Webb and Danny Adams are celebrating their 20th year in panto at the city theatre - a remarkable feat that will marked by the upcoming run of Aladdin.

This actually will be their third time of performing Aladdin at the Theatre Royal - there won't be many pantos they haven't done over the years after all but even those who have seen the previous productions will know to expect something entirely new.

This year's show, which is written and directed by leading West End producer Michael Harrison, offers a unique take and regular audiences are guaranteed surprises.

The core panto cast, including singing star Joe McElderry, got together last week to try on their new costumes - which look spectacular and share an idea of what's in store for Aladdin's November 25 to January 18 run. Much is top-secret, they say, so they won't give away any spoilers but it promises to be another winner.

Fans will be familiar with Danny and Clive's madcap humour and slapstick routines which see the lead team bounce off each other and Joe bearing the brunt of Danny's jokes but each season offers something fresh, different and often stunt-standard daring.

Danny says: "I'm learning something I can't tell you what I'm learning but it's a new skill and it's probably one of the hardest things I've had to learn."

He stars as Aladdin while Clive is Mr Goose, opposite Mother Goose, played by audience favourite dame Chris Hayward, who himself is clocking up 18 consecutive years in the panto.

And making up the colourful core cast are Wayne Smith, whose ninth year on board sees him play Old King Cole - dad of Princess Jasmine in this version of the famous fairytale about the magic lamp - and Danny's brother, and CBBC's Danny & Mick costar, Mick Potts who is the Genie and says he does not remember how long he's been a part of this onstage madness.