AUDIENCES will be dancing down to the Theatre Royal this Christmas as the Christmas Panto line up includes Strictly favourite Kristine Rihanoff and Soap Star Louis Emerick.

The high-flying panto Peter Pan from Saturday, December 8 to Sunday, January 13 will leave viewers hooked as Coronation Street’s Louis Emerick leads the all-star cast as Captain Hook with special guest star, Strictly Come Dancing’s Kristina Rihanoff as the loveable Tinker Bell.

The full cast also includes Lewis Devine; Georgina Parkinson; and Si Foster.

Best known for his portrayal of Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and his recurring role of PC Walsh in Last of the Summer Wine, Liverpool born Louis Emerick is no stranger to the St Helens stage after appearing in the 2013 production of The Ciggie Run.

Louis plays series regular Herman in UKTV’s Zapped, which returns for a third series this Autumn, and recently joined the cast of Coronation Street as Mike Thornberry, a role which he will be reprising this November.

Meanwhile waltzing on to the Theatre Royal stage, Kristina Rihanoff will be bringing lots of glitz and glamour as Tinker Bell.

A world finalist professional ballroom dancer, instructor and choreographer, she joined BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2008 to2015, reaching the final in 2011 with actor and singer Jason Donavan and again in 2014 with singer Simon Webbe.

She visited the Theatre Royal earlier this year as part of her UK tour Dance To The Music.

After causing mayhem aplenty last Christmas as Muddles, and as Buttons in Easter’s Cinderella, St Helens favorite Lewis Devine will be flying high as he stars as the boy who never grew up – Peter Pan.

She found her Prince Charming in Easter’s Cinderella and now Georgina Parkinson returns to the Theatre Royal stage as Wendy Darling and of course, no St Helens Theatre Royal panto would be complete without its resident dame, the hilarious Si Foster who will be starring as Mrs Smee.

Chantelle Nolan, theatre manager said: “I am delighted to announce the cast for St Helen’s Theatre Royal’s Christmas Panto, Peter Pan.

"Louis is a hugely popular household name and is a local talent hailing from Liverpool and I am excited to welcome Kristina Rihanoff to the production, she is a firm favourite on Strictly and I am certain audiences will love her as Tinker Bell.

“There are also returning favourites Lewis, Georgina and Si, and with lots more surprises in store audiences are in for a real treat this year in what is I’m sure going to be our best show yet.”

The action will once again jump right off the stage - get ready to be amazed with the welcome return of the magical interactive 3D screen, which proved to be a highlight for audiences during last year’s production of Snow White.

With a sprinkling of fairy dust get ready to join Wendy, John and Michael as they leave St Helens behind, flying past the second star to the right and straight to Neverland, to enjoy daring adventures battling the evil Captain Hook and his hapless henchman.

Tickets are on sale now, for more information, visit sthelenstheatreroyal.com