STARS of stage and screen vowed to put on a fun-packed show for all the family as they gathered for the launch of their panto.

And ticket sales are said to be going "extremely well" for Crewe Lyceum's production of Aladdin.

The panto will star Tachia Newell, who played pupil Bolton Smilie in the hit BBC drama Waterloo Road, as Genie.

It will also feature Ayesha Gwiltt, who plays pupil Amy Porter in the same drama, and Katie Sheridan, from children's series Genie In The House.

For Tachia, it will be the first time the 20-year-old Mancunian has seen a panto, let alone starred in one.

He said: "My agent rang me and asked if I wanted to appear in a pantomime and because work is generally quite quiet, at Christmas, I decided to give it a go.

"I've never actually watched a panto before so it's going to be a bit strange that I'll be on the stage first instead of being in the audience, but I'm really looking forward to it."

Katie Sheridan, who plays Sophie Newton in Genie In The House on Nickelodeon, will play Princess Baldroubador in the panto.

The 23-year-old, who has also appeared in Casualty and Waking The Dead, said: "I haven't seen the script yet but the costumes look fantastic and are very colourful.

"It's going to be a great show for all the family and I can't wait to start rehearsing and appear on stage. Christmas shows always have a fantastic atmosphere."

The panto will also feature Leon Craig as Widow Twankey. He appeared as Nurse Nanny Nora in Sleeping Beauty at the theatre last year.

Leon said: "I was in the panto at Crewe last year and I loved it. The audience were fantastic and with me being a Manchester lad, it's right on my doorstep."

Show director Karl Woolley, who lives in London but is originally from Stoke-on-Trent, said: "I've been in pantos in the past and directed many too but this is the first time I've been involved in one in Crewe.

"I've performed on the stage at the Lyceum when I was younger and with me being local, I jumped at the chance to come here.

"The audience will be in for a great show. The script is very funny with a local humour and some of the visual displays will have the audience asking themselves 'how did they do that?'

"It's going to be a traditional pantomime with very colourful costumes and audience interaction. Ticket sales are going very well and we hope people come out and support us."

Tickets for Aladdin, which runs from December 1 to January 2, are on sale now and prices start at £10.