PANTO is back to Skipton's Mart Theatre next weekend - and it promises to get everyone in the mood for Christmas.

Whose Panto is it Anyway? features all the panto favourites - including not one, but three evil-doers, and will play from Friday, December 17 until Sunday, December 19.

Theatre manager, Andy Lynan, said it would be shorter than usual, one hour and 15 minutes and with no interval. There would also be reserved seating with just half of the seats used, to ensure audiences felt safe, but it was good to be back after almost two years.

He said: "Our audiences will be socially distanced and all seating will be disinfected after each performance. The cast are are all giving their time for free this year to help us raise some funds to keep us running through this difficult winter period.This is an alternative panto which will lead into next year’s performance."

Once Upon a Time three villains of Skipton were defeated by the greatest magic of all - true loves kiss. But now, due to social distancing rules, it seems kissing complete strangers is frowned upon and not recommended. Now these horrible baddies have hatched a plan to finally get their own Happily Ever After.

Retelling the stories of Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty, Skipton faces not one wicked evil-doer but three, as they try to capture the magic of True Loves Kiss and rule over Skipton forever.

Will our heroes still fall in love and will they save the Kingdom like they have always done in the past? This is one pantomime that might not have a happy ending.

There are two performances on the Friday and three on both the Saturday and Sunday.

All tickets are £6. To book: www.themarttheatre.org.uk