Oh yes it is! Perth Theatre officially reopens.

Homecoming show will officially mark the reopening of the venue after revamp

Ceremony, celebration and all manner of pantomime high jinks will greet the return of theatre to Perth’s famous old stage today after a four-year hiatus.

Perth Theatre’s homecoming production of Aladdin will signal the official reopening of the venue after a £16.6 million restoration.

Artistic director Lu Kemp will direct the show, which stars the Fair City’s favourite dame, Barrie Hunter, and cast of new and familiar faces.

The grand reopening marks a beginning of a new era for the theatre and will herald the arrival of a varied and vibrant new programme of productions.

It has been a case of the show must go on in recent days as illness prevented the cast from staging preview shows.

Thankfully, however, they are now raring to go for the first performance of what will become a stunning 12-month programme of drama and entertainment.

As the theatre now looks to the future, it has also been celebrating its history, with over 100 “kids” from Perth’s panto past reunited this week.

The theatre invited anyone who performed in any Perth pantomime as a member of the young cast to a special performance of Aladdin.

It was followed by a post-show reception and “Kids of Panto Past and Present” exhibition developed with the help of the Perth and Kinross Council Archive team, who have been cataloguing the entire Perth Theatre Archive.

Debra Salem, creative producer for community engagement for Horsecross Arts, said: “Perth panto means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for the many youngsters that have volunteered as young cast members, being a Perth panto kid has been a particularly special experience.

“The reopening of Perth Theatre, after the extensive period of restoration and redevelopment, seemed the right time to celebrate with a reunion for all those young cast members who have been part of the Perth panto experience.”

Ahead of the show, which she promises, will be packed with the usual in-jokes, songs, fun and laughter, Lu Kemp said it was great to see panto return to its rightful home.

“It feels absolutely right that our first home-produced show in the newly restored Perth Theatre should be panto,” she said.

Perth Theatre’s Aladdin runs until Saturday January 6. For tickets call the Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031 or visit horsecross.co.uk.

It feels absolutely right that our first homeproduced show in the newly restored Perth Theatre should be panto. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LU KEMP

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The children’s cast on stage alongside panto dame, Barrie Hunter, who plays Widow Twankey, and panto cast from the past in the background, at Perth Theatre in Mill Street.