Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Kings Theatre in Newmarket, Haverhill Arts Centre, The Quay in Sudbury and the Ipswich Regent are all set to launch their pantomimes for 2024

Crazy antics, romance, dastardly villains and dreams coming true are all on the cards as theatres get set for panto season. A Christmas tradition (oh, yes it is!) for families to enjoy, there's nothing that beats the slapstick fun that takes place on stages in theatres across the county.

Here we give you a selection of pantomimes taking place in Suffolk.

Aladdin, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, November 22-January 12

Audiences will be delighted to step into Theatre Royal and experience Arabia’s most fabulous hotel from the moment they arrive. Take a photo at the ‘hotel's’ check-in desk before enjoying the story of Aladdin.

Welcome to the Grand Abanazer Hotel, the finest hotel in all of Arabia. Bags too heavy? Call for Aladdin, the bellboy. Clothes need a clean? Visit Washy in the laundry. Want to meet the owner? Don’t! Abanazer is vile and vain and secretly longs to rule the land... If only he could find a way to make his every wish come true.

Join Aladdin and his friends this Christmas, as they try to defeat the hotelier from hell. Each year, Theatre Royal creates their fantastic show with a cast of professional actors and a 16-member young company made up of local young people aged nine to 16.

The professionals include Samuel Deghkhadirian as Aladdin, Darcy Manning as Princess Yasmin, who is returning to the Theatre Royal after playing Dorothy in its 2023 production The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Quinn Patrick as the Dame, Sally Swankey, whose television credits include Emmerdale and Casualty.

For tickets, see www.theatreroyal.org

Dick Turpin, Kings Theatre, Newmarket, January 11-18

Join the Nomads as they stand and deliver the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin on a quest to clear his name. . . as well as capture the heart of Caroline, the beautiful daughter of Lord Lootalot.

While everyone is on the lookout for the famous outlaw, clever Dick dons a disguise and encounters Dame Dollop and her cow Daisy, as well as Katie Cuddlesome and Billy Bumpkin.

While Dick is making friends, nasty 'Mr X' and his two accomplices Smash and Grab are doing their best to smear the name of England's most famous highwayman.

With policemen Nick and Nab in hot pursuit, will Dick be arrested?

For tickets, see www.newmarketkingstheatre.com

Jack and the Beanstalk, Haverhill Arts Centre, December 14-24

Fee, fie, foe, fum, join in the fun, magic and mayhem in the mysterious land above the clouds. Will Jack save the day? Or will he get gobbled up by the gigantic giant?

Expect a generous helping of silliness, songs aplenty and loads of audience participation.

For tickets see www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk

Sleeping with Beauty (One Little Prick), Haverhill Arts Centre, January 3

Now this one is definitely for adults only with it being titled 'the horniest pantomime in town'.

Sleeping with Beauty (One Little Prick) will turn the classic fairytale upside down in a cheeky, adults-only version that’s sure to leave you blushing and begging for more.

Follow the misadventures of Princess Rose and her friends as they engage in a racy competition to bed the Prince, while trying to outwit the devilishly seductive Maleficent.

This outrageous panto proves that happily-ever-afters are a little more complicated - and a whole lot more fun - when things get hot and steamy. Just one encounter with a ‘little prick’ might be enough to leave our Princess worn out for a hundred years!

This is far from your grandmother’s bedtime story. With jaw-dropping humour, suggestive moments and raunchy plot twists, this adult pantomime will have you gasping for air between laughs.

Will the Fairy manage to save the day, or will the irresistibly sexy Prince need to whip out his ‘chopper’ to finish the job?

For tickets, see www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk

Scrooge's Christmas Carol, The Quay, Sudbury, December 13-24

Join Sudbury Dramatic Society to experience the festive magic of A Christmas Carol with Mr Scrooge learning the true spirit of Christmas with the help of a magical fairy and three wise aunties.

Will Mr Scrooge embrace the holiday cheer before morning?

For tickets, see www.quaysudbury.com

Jack and the Beanstalk, Regent Theatre, Ipswich, December 17-31

It's Christmas in the land of fairy tales where poor hero Jack and his dotty mum Dame Trott are tricked into selling their beloved cow Daisy for a useless bag of beans. Laugh at Silly Simon, boo and hiss the wicked Fleshcreep and cheer-on our hero Jack as he climbs the beanstalk to rescue his sweetheart Jill from the giant‘s castle in the clouds.

It stars television and dance sensation Louie Spence as Spirit of the Beans, EastEnders Legend Michael Greco as Fleshcreep and TikTok and West End Star Abbie Budden as Jill.

Back by popular demand, the hilarious Mike ‘Squeaky’ McClean stars as Silly Simon and Gavin Ashbarry as Dame Trott.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter for all the family.

For tickets, see www.ipswichtheatres.ticketsolve.com