Sidmouth Amateur Dramatic Society presents a traditional pantomime at the Manor Pavilion Theatre, running from Wednesday, December 27 until Monday, January 1.

This year’s offering is Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates by Alan P Frayn – a swashbuckling adventure with comedy, music and dance to entertain the whole family.

The story begins at a Brazilian plantation, before a shipwreck leaves the cast on a South Sea island inhabited by cannibals. They are then transported to underwater scenes where sharks and jellyfish roam, down to the depths of Davy Jones’ Locker.

Good meets evil as the Spirit of The Seas (Juliet Squire) battles with the baddie Davy Jones (Christine Horth) for Robinson Crusoe’s soul.

Will the wicked Pirate Cut-Throat (Cameron Retter) and his marauding crew scupper Robinson Crusoe’s (Katrina Horth) plans for adventure and fortune? How will the ship’s cook, Dame Margarita Juicilita (Ian Harbour) and son Nutty Nick (Mark Rose) help Robinson escape being eaten by cannibals? And will Juanita (Isobel Blandamer) find her true love?

This pantomime has a cast of 46 people, some as young as six, and features performances by the Elite Company Dancers from East Devon Dance Academy, choreographed by Lucie Welsman-Manville. The director is Marc Colson, with Emily Miller as musical director.

The show starts at 7pm on December 27, 28 and 29, and at 6pm on December 30, 31 and January 1. There are matinees at 2pm on the last three days.

Tickets are £14 for adults and £7 for under 16s – and more than half the tickets have already been sold. They are available from the Manor Pavilion box office on 01395 514 413 or online at www.manorpavilion.com

There will be a prize for the best-dressed pirate under 12 in the audience at each performance.