PANTOMIME season has at last arrived and it is proving to be the perfect antidote to cold weather and economic blues.

Your Worcester News has compiled a list of what’s on where to ensure you do not miss out.

SWAN THEATRE,WORCESTER

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BABES IN THE WOOD

Tuesday, December 9, to Sunday, January 4.

For tickets, priced £8.95 to £14.95, call the Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.

For more information visit worcesterlive.co.uk.

At Worcester’s Swan Theatre, rehearsals are well under way for Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood, which opens on Tuesday.

The show looks set to buck the trend of financial doom and gloom as ticket sales have soared, exceeding expectations.

Many of the early performances are already sold out with bookings from local schools, and performances over the Christmas holidays are filling up fast.

Chris Jaeger, chief executive of Worcester Live who has co-written the panto, has his own theories as to why the 2008 panto is doing so well, when ticket sales for other arts events have suffered in recent times.

“Perhaps people are looking more towards their local theatres this Christmas for good-value, traditional family pantomime, rather than the expensive options of glitzy shows in the bigger cities,” he said.

“We’ve kept our ticket prices reasonable by using talented professional actors, and not paying exorbitant prices for over-rated B-list celebrities. What audiences are getting at the Swan this year is great quality panto, appropriate for everyone – traditional family fun, which is what Christmas is all about.”

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood started life as a children’s tale back in 1595.

Lucy Abbs, who is playing a modern day Maid Marian, was raised in Worcester and recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Simon Bell is returning to Worcester to play Robin Hood.

NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH

MOTHER GOOSE

From Thursday, January 8, to Sunday, January 25.

Box office 01905 770154 or norburytheatre.co.uk.

In Droitwich, Mother Goose is getting filthy rich very fast, but longs only to be young and beautiful again.

Enter Vanity, the bad fairy, to offer beauty in exchange for a magic goose. As the rest of the cast endeavour to put things right the nasty village squire Sidney Snide does the opposite.

The Norbury cast are set to stage a traditional family pantomime in two acts.

NUMBER 8 COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE, PERSHORE

INTO THE WOODS

From Monday, December 8 to Saturday, December 13.

For tickets priced £9 to £12, phone the box office on 01386 555488 or visit number8.org.

Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society’s (PODS) show uses the music of Stephen Sondheim, the American composer behind A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and combines characters from Cinderella and her Ugly Sisters, Little Red Riding Hood and the wicked wolf, and Jack and his cow, to create a modern panto.

THE COURTYARD CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, HEREFORD

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Now until Saturday, January 10.

Box office 01432 340555 or courtyard.org.uk.

Everything is in full swing at the Courtyard in Hereford with spectacular production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

The show appeals to children and adults, but anyone over 18 years old who fancies a festive night out with a difference the Courtyard’s adult panto night is perfect.

This strictly over 18s show is billed as panto as you have never seen it before! Adultsonly nights are on Thursday, December 11, Wednesday, December 17 and Friday, January 6. Tickets £10 to £15.

THE ROSES THEATRE,TEWKESBURY

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Now until Saturday, January 3.

Box office 01684 295074 or rosestheatre.org.

MALVERN THEATRES

ALADDIN

From Thursday, December 18, to Sunday, January 11.

Box office 01684 892277 or malverntheatres.

co.uk.

THE MARKET THEATRE, LEDBURY

DICK WHITTINGTON

Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society.

From Thursday, January 15, to Sunday, January 18.

Box office 01531 636147 or themarkettheatre.com.

KAYS THEATRE GROUP,WORCESTER

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Swan Theatre, Worcester.

From Thursday, January 13 to Saturday, January 24.

Box office 01905 450083.

or kaystheatregroup. btinternet.co.uk.

EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE, EVESHAM

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVERN DWARFS

Phoenix Theatre Company’s Snow White and the Severn Dwarfs.

From Wednesday, January 21, to Sunday, January 25.

Box office 01386 442348 or phoenixtheatregroup.co.uk.

CONQUEST THEATRE, BROMYARD

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

From Thursday, December 18, to Saturday, December 20.

Box office 01885 488575 or conquest-theatre.co.uk.

THE ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE

ALADDIN – ALL AND SUNDRY

Now until this Sunday (Dec 6).

Box office 01527 577330 or artrix.co.uk.

PALACE THEATRE, REDDITCH

CINDERELLA

From Monday, December 8, to Sunday, January 4.

Box office 01527 65203 or redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk.

RUSHWICK DRAMA GROUP, RUSHWICK

GOODY TWO SHOES

Rushwick Village Hall.

From Friday, January 30, to Monday, February 2.

Tickets from Roots farm shop in Rushwick or 01905