************************* After another successful year fans of the North's favourite pantomime will be delighted to know that Berwick Kaler and the gang are back from 13 December 07 – 2 February 08 for a very special version of Sinbad the Sailor. The most powerful book of spells ever written has fallen to earth from outer space. Warlock, an evil alien sorcerer is dispatched to find the book and use its contents to destroy Planet Earth (boohiss!!) Sinbad (a poor old washer woman's son), armed only with an amulet and a Blue Peter badge for swimming the river Nile with one arm tied behind his back, sets off on his greatest comic adventure to save our world from the evil clutches of Warlock. Expect breathtaking sets and costumes, expect slapstick and belly laughs galore, but above all - expect the unexpected and you won't be disappointed! This year York Theatre Royal's management has been worried about Berwick Kaler's bizarre reaction on learning that Suzy Cooper (his Principal Girl for the last 14 years) is having a baby, and will be missing from this year's nationally acclaimed pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor. Dame Kaler said “the lengths people will go to try and get out of our annual rubbish! I didn't want to go public on this, but she's been drawing her pension for the last two years. Now I'm not good at sums, but if I were her I'd ask for a second opinion!" The legendary anarchic Dame now had the task of finding another pensioner to replace Suzy. He offered the role to Joan Collins, Suzi Quatro, Dot Cotton, and a woman he met in the Co-op on Beckfield Lane in York - all refused to work with him. Ideally he was looking for someone over 70 who, like him, can't act, sing or dance, and will appeal to the granddads in our audience. The lucky person is joining the most infamous panto in the country, working with names she's never heard of like Martin Barrass, David Leonard, and Kaler's nephew Vincent Gray. If he hadn’t found found anyone he was thinking of changing Vincent's Christian name to Linda (Gray), and giving him the part! Last year's pantomime, Cinderella, was praised by the national and regional press as being one of the best pantomimes in the country. Amazingly the first person queuing this year for tickets for Sinbad was in the line at 3.15am and was joined by over 100 people in the line by the time the doors opened at 9am. This year the theatre will be the only theatre in the country performing Sinbad the Sailor and was last produced at the theatre in 1984. Sinbad the Sailor runs from 13 December 2007 - 2 February 2008, and will be yet another unforgettable experience, filled with fun, laughter and more than a few surprises! So come along and join in with what has become one of York's most treasured possessions attracting nearly 50,000 people every year - the York Theatre Royal pantomime. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it, so don't miss it. Tickets for Sinbad the Sailor are priced at £10.00-£24.00 (For larger groups, you will be entitled to one free with every 10. This offer excludes matinee performances) and can be purchased at the York Theatre Royal Box Office or by calling 01904 623568. Tickets are also available securely online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk **************************