A NEW production of panto favourite Aladdin goes well beyond the traditional backdrops of the laundry, the palace and the cave.

In the show, by the Cinderford-based Wesley Players, our hero and his friends also find themselves stranded on the planet Mars.

It’s colourful mayhem as Aladdin, played by Louise Bullen, dreams of marrying the Princess So Shi (Sita Claridge) with many adventures before the inevitable happy ending.

The show opens with the chorus performing When You’re Smiling in song and Makaton signing.

Trying to come between Aladdin and happiness is his nasty aunt Abanazer played by Kim Owston.

Aladdin finds himself in trouble when the Vizier (Lorraine Symonds) catches him looking at the princess.

It’s been a very busy one for Lynn Teague, who adapted the script by former Players’ stalwart Elsie Olivey, and who appears as Widow Twankey.

Lynn was also responsible for musical direction with Christine Morgan and – along with Louise Bullen, Sita Claridge and Kim Owston – trained the chorus.

Among the other principal characters are Wishee Washee played by Morgan Havard, Emperor Sky Hi (Phil Probert), Abanazer’s servant Kazima (Lily Ball) and the policemen I No Yu and Yu No Me (Tanya Sundelin and Hannah Melia).

The production also features three genies (Lauren Hall, Lucy Batts and Morgan Probert) and a Baby Shark in Widow Twankey’s laundry.

Costumes for the production were made by the late Elsie Olivey, Sita Claridge, Louise Bullen and Lynn Teague. Sets were designed and made by Louise Ball and Eddie Harris and scenic artists were Louise Ball, Mark Belcher, Frank Belcher and Jim Cull.

Make-up for the production was by Louise Ball and Sita Claridge and the stage crew were Louise Ball, Rob Bullen, Lee Manns, Eddie Harris and Mike Wallis.

Continuity was provided by Jess Simons and Ebony Wallis, the prompt was Gillian Whitney and Christine Morgan was on piano.

Lighting and sound was carried out by Martin Harrison and on front of house were Jane Batts, Christine Evans, Orsi Kovacs, Sharon Kear and Frances Manns.

The production, which finishes its run at the Miners’ Welfare Hall in Cinderford this weekend, is the Players’ 64th annual pantomime.

A grant of £400 from Cinderford Town Council allowed the group to buy new costumes for the children this year and the players wished to thank the Miners’ Welfare Committee, Forest Road Centre, parents, grandparents and all the helpers behind the scenes.