PREPARE for the ultimate magic carpet ride as the great family pantomime Aladdin flies in to the Blackburn Empire Theatre for the festive season.

Last year’s seasonal treat Peter Pan broke all box office records at the theatre and Pendle Productions will return this Christmas promising a show which will be even more spectacular.

Demand from schools eager to give their pupils an end of term festive treat means that the panto’s run has already had to be extended - and the curtain doesn’t even go up on the first performances for more than a month.

“People’s expectations have grown over the years,” said director Tim Lince. “You have to continually move forward and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have in store for them this year.”

Aladdin will be played by East Lancashire actress Chloe Carrington who has recently completed a UK tour in the hit musical Jersey Boys.

Some familiar faces will be returning to the Empire - Ian Fox will once again be playing the Dame, Widow Twanky and Michael Loftus will be the Genie of the Lamp and one half of comedy duo Ping and Pong.

“This is such a wonderful theatre,” said Ian. “Even before you come on to the stage you can feel the energy from the audience, there is a real buzz about the place and as a cast you really respond to that.”

Simon Ralph will be heading to Blackburn direct from starring in Merlin in Las Vegas to play Abanazar and Cullum Arnott will play Wishee Washee.

From a spectacular opening scene to a Chinese dragon which is currently being made for the production - in China - and a magic carpet that will fly over the audience, Tim Lince is pulling out all the stops for this year’s production.

“The Blackburn Empire panto is very much about community,” he said. “It has become a show which so many families look forward to which is why this year we will be staging 60 performances.”

Aladdin opens on November 28 and runs until December 31. For details visit www.blackburnempire.com or call 01254 685500