REHEARSALS are underway for this year’s Beacon Arts Centre pantomime, as several festive favourites prepare for their return to the Greenock stage.

Still Game’s Jane McCarry and Mark Cox will be joined once again by River City star Jimmy Chisholm in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Lee Samuel, Shannon Swan and Sam Willison also feature in the panto, which is being produced in-house for a third consecutive year.

(Image: Christopher Bowen) The show will put an Inverclyde spin on the classic fairytale as the characters transport the audience to ‘Inverstrone’ – where the giant Greedyguts plans to destroy the kingdom if Dame Trot does not part with her precious cow.

READ MORE: The Beacon reveals cast for Jack and the Beanstalk panto

Staff at the Beacon hope to emulate the success of last year’s record-breaking panto, which drew in more than 17,500 people.

The venue’s co-director Karen Townsend said: “Excitement is building for our annual pantomime, which promises to be a fun-filled and magical evening for everyone.

(Image: Christopher Bowen) “Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out and secure your spot for one of Scotland’s best-loved pantos.”

Jack and the Beanstalk will run at the Beacon from December 7-31. To book tickets, go to beaconartscentre.co.uk.