​THE Lord Mayor of London and his trusty moggy find fortune in Thanet next month.

In the Birchington Guild of Players’ latest production,  by the sees Dick Whittington takes to the stage at The Centre in Alpha Road, Birchington, from Thursday, February 11.

The Guild prides itself on its annual panto and this year the show, produced by Ruth Childs, promises no disappointments with plenty of traditional fun, audience participation and a story that includes shipwreck, plague, fame, fortune and a great many rats.

Helen Page takes the thigh-slapping title role accompanied by Cally Knowles as Dick’s trusty feline friend.

They star alongside Geoff Kirk as Sarah the cook (cor), James Coare (cor) as Idle Jack, Chris Whittaker as Alderman Fitzwarren and Chelsea Monk as his daughter, Alice.

Robert Cox is Master Spike Marlin, who, with his wife, Marlene (Rita Taylor) plays his wife, Marlene, who sails his their ship and much of the cast to the Barbary Coast.

There they meet the Sheik, played by Richard Taylor, Captain of the Palace Guard Mustapha, played by Lester Hovenden, and his daughter, Yasmin, played by Lynn Dey.

No panto is complete without someone to cheer – which comes from  Sherry (cor) Underwood as Fairy Tinkle (Sherry Underwood) – and someone to boo, a role filled by  Vanessa Burt as the verminous Queen Rat.

Tony Matthews directs the music and Charlie Burt and Ashlee Johncock have choreographed the show.

Banish the winter blues with the cheery show which runs from Thursday to Saturday, February 11 to 14, with performances at 7.30pm and 2.30pm matinees on  Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets, which cost £6, are available from the box office on 01843 290266.