TIGHTS and monstrous wigs are being dusted off at theatres around the region as the pantomime season looms.

It is already underway at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham but for some venues, "it's behind you" will not be ringing out until next year.

The closest professional pantomime to home is at the Malvern Theatres, where Cinderella will be going to the ball and winning her Prince Charming.

The production stars Marti Webb as the fairy godmother, Chris Jarvis, from children's TV, as Buttons and Nicholas Smith, Mr Rumbold from the classic BBC sitcom Are You Being Served, as Baron Hardup. It runs from Wednesday, December 12 until Saturday, January 5, at the Festival Theatre and tickets are from £7 on 01684 892277.

Ledbury's Market Theatre is offering up Rapunzel in the new year. In an original adaption of the classic fairy tale, Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society is performing the pantomime from January 15-19 and 22-26. Tickets are on sale on 01531 633226.

Theatregoers in Bromyard have an even longer wait as The Queen of Hearts at the Conquest does not start until Friday, February 8. The production is on at weekends until Saturday, February 23. Further information on 01885 488575.

Further afield, Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre is offering another version of Cinderella. The show has already started and continues until Saturday, January 12. The box office is on 01242 572573.

The creators of TV show The Tweenies have written a new version of Dick Whittington for Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre. It runs from today (Friday) until Saturday, January 12. The box office is on 01684 295074.

Worcester theatregoers will be crying "Bah humbug" as A Christmas Carol comes to the Swan Theatre. Charles Dicken's classic festive tale has already opened and runs until Saturday, January 5. Tickets are from the box office on 01905 27322.

At Norbury Theatre, Droitwich, the resident amateur company will also be staging Dick Whittington, which opens on January 10 and runs to January 26.

Performances are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

There is an extra Sunday matinee at 2.30pm on the opening weekend.

Tickets are £7 (£6 concessions) from 01907 770154 (evenings) or 01905 795619 (day).

Jack in the Beanstalk is the choice of The Courtyard in Hereford.

The pantomime is on from Thursday, Dece-mber 13 until Saturday, January 12.

Tickets are available on 01432 359252.