YOU are invited to kick your Christmas off in a 'BOOMING marvellous style'.

The Theatre Royal Windsor is set to wow crowds this festive season with their pantomime of Sleeping Beauty, featuring iconic TV character Basil Brush.

In an exclusive interview with the Observer, Basil tells us what audience members can expect to see from this year's rendition.

"They can expect lots of laughter, lots of slosh, lots of noise and I am almost certain we will be doing the 12 days of Christmas," Basil said.

"Of course there is poor sleeping beauty going to sleep. There will be goodies, there will be badies and there will be people turning from badies into goodies at the end of the show. And of course the audience.

"I have done 20 pantomimes and Windsor audiences are the loudest pantomime audiences that you will ever find in the entire county. They are loud and they are half the show.

Slough Observer: Basil Brush in costume preparing for the pantomimeBasil Brush in costume preparing for the pantomime (Image: Daisy Waites)

"We all need to get out a bit don’t we and smile. I think the pantomime is one of those great opportunities where you can actually come with all the family, know it’s good clean fun and kick your christmas’s off in a booming marvelous style. I hope people come in their drones."

The production opens its door to audiences from November 25 to January 8, 2023, with an all-star cast including music and movie icon Anita Harris, Britain's Got Talent star Kevin Cruise and Love Island's Amy Hart.

This year sees a lot of returning faces, with 'Windsor's favourite dame' Steven Blakeley taking on the role of writer. 

"The theatre's aim every year is to offer a very traditional pantomime, but we always love to put a few twists in there," Steven says.

Boasting 'comedy capers, dazzling dancers, colourful costumes and fairy magic' the theatre hopes to see a large turnout.

Kevin said: "The theatre is throwing everything at it."

When asked whether he feels the cost of living crisis will affect the production, Kevin said: "I'm sure theatre will be affected, but panto is something we do once a year and I think families have a tradition and it means a lot to them.

"People travel to the theatre from 'all over the world' to watch the panto. A lot of people come from America each year, from Canada, Israel.

"We have some very loyal fans and we look after them."

As we gradually return to normality, the cast took a minute to reflect on last year's pantomime shows that saw 17 versions taking place over the festive season to account for missing cast members due to Covid.

This year "it'll be bigger and better than we've done it before" Kevin explained.

To get tickets for the pantomime visit theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/sleeping-beauty