The cast of this year’s Mansfield Palace Theatre pantomime, Aladdin, say they can’t wait to get down to work on the new show, which has already sold more than 70 per cent of its tickets.

Speaking at the launch, panto headliner James Mackenzie told how he was looking forward to having fun on stage and spending Christmas in Mansfield this year — and said it beat having a ‘real’ job!

The Scottish actor was in Mansfield for the first time and in his portrayal of panto villain Abanazar, he said he would be drawing on the darkness of his TV character Raven, from the awarding-winning CBeebies series of the same name.

“I have played the baddie in panto many a time so I hopefully know what I’m doing,” he joked. “I suppose there was a darker side to my alter ego of Raven back in the day so here, a slightly darker, more stern side.

“I love doing panto. It’s so much fun and beats having a real job! I’m looking forward to getting the show up and running, getting into a rhythm and entertaining the audiences of Mansfield.

“You can expect some wickedness, some naughtiness, and probably a slight twinkle in the eye. It will be a bit of fun — but you know, I am the baddie so you’ve got to boo me!”

Joining James on stage will be the Mansfield panto’s comic veteran, Adam Moss, who will be taking the role of Wishee Washee, back for his 11th year in the town.

So what keeps him returning? “They are proper panto people here and they absolutely love panto, from kids right up to older members of the audiences,” he said.

“They’re a lovely audience. They don’t get offended easily and love to come and watch a good bit of entertainment. You can expect comedy, magic, mayhem — and I might even learn my script this year!

“I have just met the cast of eight and they all seem like an absolute cracking bunch and I can’t wait to introduce them to what Mansfield is actually like.

“It is a massive team effort and it all comes together in that eight-week period. People think we have months to put this together and it is only like a couple of weeks. So yeah, that’s what I look forward to — the old camaraderie that comes with panto.”

Other members of the cast include Ben Harlow, who will be reprising the role of Widow Twankey which he played in Blackpool last year.

Ben’s previous stage work has seen him perform in Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia, and the original international tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Paolo Micallef will play Aladdin, while Mairi Ikegami will take the role of Princess Jasmine and Shannon Farrell the Spirit of the Ring. Shahar Mizrahi joins the cast as the Genie.

Mark Peachey, whose television credits include Hollyoaks, Books That Made Britain and Inside Out, is the Emperor.

Mansfield District Council Cultural Services manager, Sian Booth, said: “It feels like we’re welcoming a lot of people back home, especially Adam, our long-serving comic who we’re thrilled to have back.

“Mansfield loves panto. It’s a really special time. Every year we have packed houses from the start to the very end of the run, 535 people filling every single seat. And we can’t wait to have everybody back.”

Adam Hill, chief executive of the council, which operates the theatre, said the annual pantomime made a significant contribution to the local economy.

“It’s not just about the enjoyment of pantomime itself that is important for Mansfield,” he added.

“It also brings an economic value, whether it’s an overnight stay, going out for a meal, coming shopping, or making a day of it. Visitors might also look at the museum, or at other cultural programmes.

“The knock-on effect is ten-fold from the purchase of one panto ticket, to that feelgood factor, to a real economic opportunity to improve the lives of the community.”

Tickets for Aladdin are available at mansfieldpalace.co.uk or by visiting or calling the Box Office on 01623 463133.