IT'S that time of the year again - oh yes it is! - when thoughts are turning to early booking for a Christmas show. So what's on locally to provide some thigh-slapping, tall-wigged, high camp entertainment which no Christmas should be without...?

BEAUTY and the Beast is being revived at the RSC for a second year running but with some additions and surprises for the season ahead.

It was popular with both children and adults last year and this season it has been 're-imagined', introducing new characters, new songs and new effects.

The Beast this year is Gary Sefton, who last year played the mechanical Beast's man. He boasts acrobatic and climbing skills which will give Beast extra movements - he will climb across and walk down the back wall and use special jumping stilts called Powerisers so he can take two-metre leaps and run at 20mph.

Miltos Yerolemou is playing the Beast's man and he will be wearing special bouncing shoes called Kangaroo Jumps, so he can jump around the stage.

Welsh actress Karen Paullada is playing Beauty in her RSC debut after recent appearances on television in Hearts of Gold. Holby City's ward sister Kath Shaughnessy (Jan Pearson) is playing Helene and the witch.

Beauty and the Beast runs from November 15 to January 16. Contact the ticket hotline on 0870 6091110 or at www.rsc.org.uk.

CHIPPING Norton's Theatre is promising 'a dazzling exotic treat taking you from the bustling market places and ports of Mesopotamia to a mysterious island sparkling with diamonds, via a ride on the back of a whale!'

Sinbad and the Diamond Princess sees the young sailor head out to sea with Captain Spanker, only to get shipwrecked on treasure island. He falls for the beautiful Diamond Princess but only if he fills his pockets with diamonds will her wicked uncle let them marry.

Suitable for children aged three and over, the original sets, scripts and music comes from the same team which produced last year's Robin of Wychwood.

Sinbad and the Diamond Princess runs from November 18 to January 8. Box office: 01608 642350 (www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk).

THOUSANDS of tickets have already been sold for Sleeping Beauty, this year's offering from The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.

Written, directed and created by the theatre's own team, the show is proving even more popular than last year's Aladdin, outstripping its sales at the same point by more than 2,000.

The new story will be set in chilly Chentenovski where you can meet Dame Nanny Whaddon, wicked tooth fairy Pit-Vile, Prince Stroud, a wobbly donkey and more.

Sleeping Beauty runs from December 3 to January 15. Book your seat on 01242 572573 or at www.everymantheatre.org.uk.

PROBABLY the favourite of all pantomimes, Cinderella is the choice for this season at The Swan Theatre in Worcester.

Jack Wild, who starred in the film version of Oliver!, is heading the cast for the pantomime which runs from December 10 to January 1.

Box office: 01905 611427.

THERE 'S a Neighbour, a game show host and a CBeebie in Aladdin at Malvern this year.

Dr Karl Kennedy from Neighbours, alias Alan Fletcher, will be drumming up some boos as Abanazar, Andy Collins, host of Family Fortunes and Garden SOS, will be Wishee Washee and Nicole Davis from CBeebies will be the Salve of the Ring.

The show will run from December 16 to January 9. Box office: 01684 892277 (www.malvern-theatres.co.uk).

MOTHER Goose is the golden egg taking to the stage at Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre.

Local children have been invited to join in the chorus with the traditional panto which will be running from December 3 to January 8.

Box office: 01684 295074.

THERE'S another Aladdin on in Redditch this year, from the same team which produced last year's record breaking show Snow White.

It runs from December 6 to January 3 but some nights are already sold out. Box office: 01527 65203.

THE Birmingham Hippodrome has an all-star line-up of Letitia Dean, Joe Pasquale and Don Maclean in Jack and the Beanstalk.

It runs from December 21 to January 30. Box office: 0870 7301234.

PUSS in Boots will be performed by the Broadway Players at the Lifford Hall, Broadway next month.

The amateur dramatic pantomime will take place on Friday, November 12 and Saturday 13 at 7.30pm and Sunday, November 14 at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £5, or £3 for under 15s from Ashmore's Dry Cleaners, Leamington Road, Jelfs Newsagents, and the tourist information centre.