Under the direction of Justin Parkes, the cast and crew have been working tirelessly over the past few months to bring the show together. 'Dick Whittington' tells the tale of a young man who travels to London seeking out success and riches. He is accompanied along the way by his wiley cat, called Tommy.

Dick and his Cat get into all kinds of mischief, not least when Dick falls in love with Alice, the daughter of his new boss Mr Fitzwarren. Of course the road to true love is rocky for Dick and he has to overcome many obstacles before he can enjoy his happy ending.

Captivating performances are given by Eoghan Fingleton as Dick, Jayne Louise Kelly as Alice and Joan White as Tommy the Cat. Much humour is provided by Monty, Mrs Biggins and Knick and Knack who all dish out the jokes and laughter throughout the two hour show. Knick and Knack are a particular highlight of the performance and have the audience in stitches with their offbeat humour, charisma and on stage chemistry.

Of course people will have to go and grab the last few remaining tickets to find out what else happens in the lively musical. The long hours and dedication have finally paid off for the dancers, stage crew, and children as they perform to enthusiastic audiences each night. Much of the panto's charm lies in the local jokes and underlying humour the cast provides, as well as many characters interacting with audience members - both young and old.

Musical director for this performance is Niall Mulpeter and he is aided with choreography from Rachel Cox and Ruth O'Sullivan. Following from the success of last year's 'Cinderella', this year is no exception and provides laughter, song and dance suitable for all the family. For more information or to book tickets, contact the Dunamaise Arts Centre at 057 86 63355. The panto runs until Saturday, January 31.

** To best view images, click on View Gallery. All photos are by Alf Harvey