Planning is under way for this year's Courtyard pantomime Cinderella, which opens on December 2.

The Hereford Times is able to reveal who will play leading lady and principal boy in Lyndsay Maples' adaptation of the best-loved panto.

Taking the title role of Cinderella is young actress Sophie Ladd.

Recently graduated from Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School, this is her first professional role.

Playing alongside Sophie in the role of Prince will be Paul Russell, who has worked in various theatre and dancing roles.In the role of Buttons will be Paul Harper-Swan, who has appeared at the Courtyard once before as Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls.

Other familiar faces are Terry Pearson - who made his acting debut at the Nell Gwynne Theatre - in the role of Baron Hardup and Max Gell, who will play the prince's friend, Dandini.

Max is very familiar with the Courtyard, having worked behind the bar at the venue as well as appearing on stage in Macbeth and They Shoot Horses Don't They? before leaving to train at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Christmas is a magical time in any theatre but the Courtyard's forte is its focus on tradition with a twist. This year's production will be directed by Nicholas Collett, who played Widow Twankey in last year's pantomime, Aladdin. He is also taking the role of one of the ugly sisters.

The other is played by James Dinsmore, who appeared in Aladdin as the Lord Chancellor. Cinderella will run from Friday, December 2, to Saturday, January 7, and tickets are available from £5.

To book tickets, call 0870 1122330.