SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Launches at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

TV stars Rita Simons and Phil Gallagher were in Canterbury yesterday (Sunday) to launch this year's Marlowe Theatre pantomime.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs is the first panto for Rita (who plays Roxie Mitchell in EastEnders), but it's Phil's 11th and his third at The Marlowe.

Rita said the theatre - and the city - came highly recommended to her by TV soap colleagues Scott Maslen and Samantha Womack, who have appeared in the last two pantomimes. Although she has been in EastEnders for eight years, Rita is used to performing live: she was in the band Girls@Play and toured extensively to venues around the country.

She said: "I've been asked to do pantomime a few times before but always said no, mainly because of the location and the fact that my children were too young. They are now nine, and will be nearly 10 when I'm here, so are that little bit more independent if I'm away working.

"Also, of all the places to do pantomime, Canterbury is the best; it's a beautiful city. I came here before with the band when we were gigging but my priority then wasn't to look at the cathedral but to find the nearest pub! Things have changed since then."

Rita (38) will play the Wicked Queen in Snow White.

Phil (also 38) returns to The Marlowe as Muddles. As CBeebies Mister Maker, one of the most popular characters on children's TV, he is in the middle of a hectic year: he is finishing a series of shows at Butlins across the UK and then goes to Australia in June and July for a tour of all the big cities, including Sydney's Opera House. When he returns, he will start filming a new series for CBeebies (Mister Maker's Arty Party) and rehearse and start his UK tour Mister Maker And The Shapes, which tours until June 2016 (and comes to The Marlowe Theatre in April).

He said: "It's a pretty extensive schedule but broken in the middle by pantomime - I'm so glad to be coming home to The Marlowe for a third time!"

Rita and Phil will be joined by Ben Roddy (Nurse Nellie), Lloyd Hollett (Herman The Henchman), both seasoned Marlowe performers.

Pantomime producer Paul Hendy said: "This was the first time the cast have all got together and it was great to see how they immediately gelled. It's going to be good to work with them from November, when rehearsals start, and I know the end result will be a great show."

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs is at The Marlowe Theatre from 27 November to 10 January 2016. For more details and to book tickets, call the Box Office on 01227 787787, or go to marlowetheatre.com.