Corrie's Reg will have panto fans full of beans!

Ipswich Borough Council's Regent Theatre announced the cast for this winter's blockbuster show, Jack & the Beanstalk.

The show will star Ken Morley, aka Reg Houldsworth, as Dame Trott, while Antony Costa from boy band Blue (reforming this summer) plays the title role.

Every panto must have a villain and, this year, the Regent has turned to CBBC and Raven himself, James MacKenzie.

Councillor Judy Terry, the Borough Council's Arts, Culture & Leisure portfolio-holder, welcomed the star-studded cast. "This is fantastic; these three alone will ensure there is something for everyone. The Regent panto has become established as a big-hitting regional show and a must for families from all over Suffolk and beyond. We are delighted to be staging another top show."

Regent Manager David Mansfield said: "It is important to keep up the quality of the show and cast and in our fifth year of professional panto we have certainly done that. Joining Ken, Antony and James on stage will be a former Regent favourite, Carl Johns, playing Jack's brother Silly Billy. Carl was a wow in Peter Pan, where he played Smee opposite Brian Blessed's Captain Hook."

David added: "We always like to break new ground at the Regent and this year we will have the largest giant to be seen on any English panto stage - Giant Blunderbore. We will also have a beautiful Princess, of course, and plenty of dancers and children. Don't miss it!"

The show, which is again produced for the Council by production company Duo, runs from 19th December to 10th January 2010 and tickets (from just £5) are now on sale on the website: www.ipswichregent.co.uk or from the Box Office:  01473 433100.