Family-fun day to help launch Peter Pan

The Grand’s family event on Wednesday will launch this year’s swashbuckling pantomime Peter Pan at 1-3pm at Blackpool’s Stanley Park bandstand.

Presented by Martin Dodd for UK Productions, youngsters can meet the stars.

There will be free activities, including face painting, a pirate ship bouncy castle, children’s caricatures by Mr Fundoo and a free chocolate gold coin giveaway from the pirate’s treasure chest.

The Grand will also be holding a pirates and fairies fancy dress competition for children, the winner of which will win a family ticket to Peter Pan. The competition will be judged at the Radio Wave Stage at 2.45pm.

Taking on the infamous role of Hook is ex-Emmerdale bad boy Tom, Smee will be played by Grand Theatre favourite and BBC Radio Lancashire’s Steve, Mrs Darling and the Mermaid will be played by Radio Wave’s Hayley and Jordan Lee Davies from The Voice UK will be playing Peter Pan.

Tom Lister is best known for his role as Carl King in ITV’s Emmerdale, a role he has played since 2004.

Tom has also appeared in The Bill, Doctors and Heartbeat.

His theatre credits to date include playing Ralph in Accrington Pals (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Titus/Fool in Bill Shakespeare’s Italian Job (Gilded Balloon - Edinburgh), Pan in Love’s Mistress (Globe Theatre) and Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Settle Festival of Theatre).

Comedian, actor, writer and BBC Radio presenter Steve Royle plays Smee in his 11th year in Grand Theatre panto.

For more than 12 years Steve could be found in the guise of Mad Edgar the court jester at Camelot theme park near Chorley where he presented more than 2,000 Crazy Juggling Shows.

He has also supported both Peter Kay and Dave Spikey on tour and was voted Entertainer of the Year at the recent Red Rose Awards.

His many TV appearances have included Phoenix Nights, Max & Paddy, That’s Entertainment (Granada), Stand-up Britain (Granada), Give Your Mate A Break (Granada), The Afternoon Show, Talk Of The North and The Things You Do For Love. Steve is also co-founder of the Slaughterhouse - Live (“Laughter with an S”) character comedy nights.

The group regularly performs at The Comedy Store and was nominated in the best touring show category at the Manchester Comedy Awards, losing out to Peter Kay.

Meanwhile Radio Wave presenter Hayley Kay will be hosting the 101st Illumination Switch On Celebrations at the Tower Festival Headland alongside Jonathan Ross and The Script.

She said: “I had such an amazing time playing the Fairy Godmother last year; I jumped at the chance to be part of it again!”

Peter Pan is on at the Grand Theatre Blackpool from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, January 5 2014.