THOSE who doubt that this year's Theatre Royal pantomime will be the best ever, will be told "Oh yes it is!"

Rehearsals have began in earnest for the 65 performances of Jack And The Beanstalk, written, starring and co-directed by the one and only Berwick Kaler.

Berwick, the king of the York pantomime season, will be playing Fanny Shufflebottom in the show, which is scheduled to run between December 12 and February 2.

Tickets are already selling like hotcakes for the show, which will also see appearances from Martin Barrass, Suzy Cooper and Joanne Heywood.

Staff at the Theatre Royal are confident that this year's event will be the busiest ever.

Although no dates are sold out yet, the phone lines have been red hot as fun-seekers from in and around York rush to book their seat for the famous show.

The cast got together to mark the start of an intensive period of rehearsal, preparing themselves for the extravaganza starting in the run-up to Christmas.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01904 623568.

Updated: 10:45 Tuesday, November 20, 2001