KEEN thespians are promising not to rub festive audiences up the wrong way when they stage this year’s annual Christmas spectacular.

The Greenock Players are set to deliver a magical performance of Aladdin – with preparations already well under way.

The players commissioned Greenock actor/writer Ruairidh Forde to pen the script, which features lots of local gags about Morton and other Inverclyde institutions.

Sarah-Jane Gorman stars in the title role at the head of a 40-strong cast.

Chief villain, Chris Gavin, who plays Abanazar, said the story is based around the Chinese version of the Aladdin tale, rather than the Arabian one popularised in the 1992 Disney film starring the late Robin Williams.

The Players have been producing pantos for more than 60 years and they say this is definitely shaping up to be one of the best.

Rehearsals are taking place now in preparation for the show, which will run at the Beacon from 28 November until 6 December, with matinees on both Saturdays.

Chris said: “I’ve been involved with the Players for many years, and this is one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read.

“It’s a very modern, upbeat version of the story, with lots of local humour that will have adults as well as children laughing.

“My character for example is supposed to be from Egypt, but he is more of a Scottish baddie in our story.” He said he hoped the people of Inverclyde would turn out in force to see their local panto starring local performers, including new members of the cast recruited during auditions for the chorus.

Chris said: “We invited the public to come along for auditions.

“It’s a good way of bringing people together for a community panto, and helps to encourage new talent to come forward.” The panto is directed by Sue MacPhee. The musical director is Christopher Duffy and Angela Porteous is in charge of choreography.

Tickets can be booked by calling the Players on 792745 or the Beacon on 723723.