IT'S panto time in Craven - oh yes, it is.

Seven local theatre companies will be treading the boards over the next few days.

Addingham will stage Dick Whittington, which features Emma Sutcliffe in title role and a junior chorus of 23 children.

Performances are at the memorial hall tomorrow at 7.30pm, Saturday at 1pm and 5pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm, and next Saturday, February 20, at 2pm and 7.30pm. To book tickets, call 01943 831007.

Bentham Theatre Group will present Beauty and the Beast - the story of a vain Prince living in a castle not too far from Le Bentham.

Craven Herald:

The show will be performed in Bentham Town Hall at 7.30pm next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and at 6.30pm next Saturday.

Tickets are on sale from Temptations, Main Street, High Bentham.

Carleton is marking the 20th anniversary of the revival of its pantomime with family favourite Peter Pan.

A 50-strong cast of adults and children are supported by an army of prop builders, scenery painters and costume makers who are frantically transforming the village hall into Neverland.

There will be five performances - at 7.30pm from Wednesday to Saturday and a matinee performance at 2pm next Saturday. Tickets are on sale at Carleton Post Office and The Swan Inn.

Gargrave Village Hall Pantomime Group will give four performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the village hall from Thursday to Saturday.

The evening shows start at 7.15pm and there will be an additional matinee performance at 2.15pm.

Written by Peter Denyer, the show stars Rachel Tetley as Snow White and Laura Lipscombe as the evil queen.

Tickets are on sale at the Dalesman Cafe and Gargrave Library.

Glusburn Youth Theatre will perform Alice In Wonderland at Glusburn Institute, starting on Sunday and running until next Saturday.

Institute spokesman Jason Smith said: “It's looking like it's going to be the best panto yet.”

As always, it will feature the ever-popular flying ballet.

Tickets are available from 01535 630922 or Panache Hairdressers in Cross Hills.

A modern twist to a traditional story is promised when Grassington Pantaloons perform pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the town hall.

The production will feature a plethora of contemporary songs and a cast of more than 30, headed by Ruby Benson as Sleeping Beauty.

It starts next Friday, February 19, at 7.30pm and is repeated on Saturday, February 20, Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27. The matinee is at 2.30pm on February 27.

Director Penny Hart-Woods said: “We can promise a scintillating show with plenty of songs and family fun.”

Tickets are available from Grassington Hub.

Ingleton Theatre Group will celebrate its 30th anniversary by staging The Wizard of Oz.

Written by Sue Mosley, the story is based on L Frank Baum’s much-loved tale and is recreated by talented artistes and a lively chorus of local youngsters.

The production runs at Ingleborough Community Centre from Wednesday, February 24, to Saturday, February 27, at 7.30pm.