THE CURTAIN rises on the Alhambra’s spectacular panto, Peter Pan, tonight, taking audiences off to Neverland this Christmas.

The show features a range of special effects, including a giant crocodile and a magical underwater adventure.

Billy Pearce, embarking on his 18th Alhambra panto, plays Smee and is joined by singer, musical theatre star and presenter Darren Day as dastardly Captain Hook, former Emmerdale actress Charlie Hardwick, as Mimi the Mermaid, and Jon Lee, musical star and singer with pop group S Club 7, who will be flying high as Peter Pan. Also treading the boards is Lucy Evans, who started out aged eight playing young Cosette in Les Miserables and went on to play Lauren Wilson in Coronation Street. The Lost Boys are played by local youngsters who attended open auditions at the Alhambra.

“It’s wonderful to see audiences so engaged in panto, especially children because they’re the next generation of theatre-goers,” said Charlie Hardwick, who played Val Pollard in Emmerdale.

* Peter Pan runs until January 29.