THE notorious Rock'n'Roll Roll Panto at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall opens on Friday for a run until January 10.

This season, the production will be Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood, presented in the Swan Street theatre's inimitable style.

“The City Varieties pantomime has become a necessary date in the diary throughout the festive period,” says general manager Ian Sime. “It’s fair to say it’s a bit of a Leeds tradition."

The soundtrack will be played live on stage by the cast, who will cover hits by the likes of Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Meat Loaf, Shania Twain, Bob Marley and even The Clash.

“The cast are extraordinarily talented,” says Ian. “The atmosphere is electric and has audiences, young and old, dancing in the aisles. The Rock'n'Roll Panto has everything audiences expect from a traditional family pantomime: slapstick comedy, audience interaction and outlandish costumes with the bonus of a rocking soundtrack and the now legendary ‘boulder fight’."

If you have been before, you will know exactly what the boulder fight is. "If you haven’t, then there’s only one way to find out," says Ian. "You won’t see anything like this anywhere else in Yorkshire. It’s a real treat.”

In the company of actor-musicians will be Eamonn Fleming as Nanny Nellie Nightnurse; Peter Manchester, Robin Hood; Liz Singleton, Maid Marian; Darrell Brockis, Sheriff of Nottingham; Kenny Davies, Numbskull/Friar Tuck; Louisa Beadel, Whitney; Sophie Byrne, Britney and choreographer; Alexander Bean, Little John; Matthew Burns, Will Scarlet, and Mike Slader, Much The Miller's Son.

Leading the production team are director Paul Hart, writer Peter Rowe, musical director Tristan Parkes, designer Sean Turner, lighting designer Jason Salvin, sound designer Tom Blackband and a familiar name from York Theatre Royal productions, Liam Evans-Ford, the fight director.

Tickets are on sale at cityvarieties.co.uk or on 0113 243 0808.