BLACK Country stage stars Lauren Soley and Kate Taylor Marshall will be lighting up the stage in a pantomime production of Cinderella later this month.

Lauren from Dudley is set to take on the starring role in the show at Kidderminster Town Hall which is being staged by freelance producer and director Michael Neri and Kidderminster Town Council, while Kate will star as the evil stepmother.

Michael is an established director and producer having brought shows to London’s West End and regionally and Lauren, a former member of both Carpet Trades Musical Theatre Company and Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society, has previously performed in an international tour of Les Misérables and in the West End; while established actress Kate has performed for Here To There Productions and Vamos Theatre several times.

The script for the show has been written by actor Joe Ashman, best known for his role as Callum in Netflix original Free Rein, who was a panto veteran before breaking into TV.

For more information about the show go to townhallpanto.co.uk or to book tickets, which start at £16 for children and a discount is offered for families, group bookings and school groups.

Cinderella will run from Monday December 23 to Monday December 30.

Director Michael, who runs Wyre Forest based Talking Props Performing Arts Studios, said: "I am thrilled to be bringing the magic of pantomime to Kidderminster.

"It’s a perfect time for all the family to get together and enjoy the holidays, we are completely transforming the town hall into a traditional pros arch theatre space, a huge undertaking and we are filling it with some of the most talented actors who I’m pleased to say all originate from Worcestershire and the West Midlands."

He hopes the show will prove an alternative to costly trips to the big cities at Christmastime.