The 2012 amateur theatre scene starts where we left off in 2011 – with pantomime.

Charnwood Community Theatre will be putting their own slant on the story of The Princess and the Pea, which they will be performing tonight and tomorrow evening at the Fearon Hall, Loughborough.

Then they take the show on the road for matinee (2pm) and evening (7.30pm) performances at Diseworth village hall on Saturday. Tickets can be booked by e-mailing:

ctheatre@live.co.uk

The highly-acclaimed Pantomime Company open on Wednesday with Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp at the Concordia Theatre, Hinckley.

This year's show features veteran circus ringmaster Norman Barrett, MBE, with his performing budgerigars. Fancy a quick January pick-me-up? See him and his troupe of well-drilled budgies in action here:

bit.ly/oiUy7A

Aladdin runs until Saturday February 4, but, please note, there are no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the run.

For tickets call 07528 231 379. Full details and performance times are available on the website:

www.pantomimecompany.com