Wellington Pantomime Group (WPG) is making the final adjustments and adding a last sprinkling of magic ahead of its production of ‘Dick Whittington’.

The pantomime is set to be performed at the Wellesley Theatre in Wellington from next Wednesday (January 22) to Sunday, January 26, with three performances on the Saturday. Already more than half the tickets have been sold.

Queen Rat (Charlie Hughes) is reeking devastation on London town with her plague of rats. But Fairy Bowbells (Beth Swan) is keeping a watchful eye. She sends her friend Tommy the Cat (Holly Knowles) to London to prevent Queen Rat from completely taking over!

On the way to London, Tommy meets the hero, Dick Whittington (Madeleine David), and the two become firm friends. While looking for a job, Dick meets the beautiful Alice (Nicole Heritage) and the two of them fall madly in love. Dick is given a job at the store owned by Alice’s father, Alderman Fitzwarren (Pete Watts), where he meets Idle Jack (Thomas Shields) and Sarah the Cook (Ian Jones).

Scared that Dick and Tommy will ruin her plans for world domination, Queen Rat frames them for a crime they did not commit. Dick leaves London in shame. But he is determined to win his love back and clear his name, so decides to return and fight for his innocence. Disguised, he and Tommy join the crew of the Alderman’s boat, ‘The Tonetanic’, captained by his twin brother Horatio, which is destined for the far-off land of Morocco.

Will Dick and the crew return alive? Who will save London from the rats? Will Dick clear his name and win back Alice’s love?

Tickets are £12 adults, £9 concessions and £35 family (two adults and two children). They are on sale at Odette’s Tea Room in High Street, Wellington, from www.ticketsource.co.uk/wellingtonartscentre or by phone on 01823 240063.

The pantomime group is proud to support charities each year. This year in support of Dick Whittington and his cat, the group will have a collection for St Margaret’s Hospice and Cats Protection in Wellington.