PANTO will bring the autumn season to an end at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax. Beauty and the Beast is this year’s show which sees the return of Adam Stafford as the Dame and the debut of comic Josh Benson.

Josh began his pantomime career in 2007 at the age of 10, as a ‘Panto Babby’ at the York Theatre Royal, then in 2014 played John Darling in Peter Pan. He has performed on TV in the BAFTA award winning BBC Morecambe and Wise biopic Eric & Ernie, in BBC1’s Casualty, and on stage in the Calendar Girls musical.

Adam Stafford was last seen at the Victoria Theatre two years ago in Aladdin. He said: “I love performing at the Victoria Theatre. It’s a proper old theatre and the audiences are always very appreciative.”

Over the last year Adam has also directed a play in Beijing for the Chinese National Children’s Theatre, worked on a live Teletubbies show at Alton Towers, developed a new musical, and managed international tribute show Suspiciously Elvis.

Beauty and the Beast runs from December 14 to January 5, and producers are seeking young dancers aged nine to 16 to perform in the professional cast. Visit imaginetheatre.co.uk for details of the auditions, which will be on September 1.

The K&K Philharmonic Orchestra take their first UK tour to the Victoria Theatre on October 7, presenting their Salzburg Mozart Gala with excerpts from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro.

There’s brass music on August 31 when the renowned famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band perform at the Victoria Theatre, conducted by Professor David King. They are the reigning 2019 Yorkshire Champions, a title they have won on no less than 10 occasions.

Stewart Francis and his perfectly-crafted gags can be heard on November 2 as he presents his last-ever show Into The Punset. Roger Davies and His Band will perform on September 14, the singer-songwriter is showing why Fairport Convention made him their guest on a 30-date UK tour in 2016.

Tony Slattery is ‘Unrehearsable’ in his latest show, in Halifax on September 28, offering an insight into his life, career and the demons that continue to dog his footsteps. Promised are special guests, comedy, Q&As, and lots of laughs, in a show from the “blithely uninhibited Lord of Misrule and erudite old git”.

Visit victoriatheatre.co.uk or call 01422 351158 to book tickets for any of the shows at the Victoria Theatre.