Young Dick, a poor boy from Gloucester played by Bradford's ever-popular Billy Pearce travels to London accompanied by his cat, hoping to make his fortune.

Expecting the streets to be paved with gold, Dick has a rude awakening at the grimy dirty city and is tempted to return home. Just as he is leaving he hears the bells of London ringing, they seem to say, "Turn again Whittington, three times Lord Mayor of London". So Dick returns to London, embarks on a series of adventures and the panto finishes with a happy-ever-after ending

Paul Usher, also known as PC Des Taviner from The Bill takes on the role of the villainous King Rat, doing all he can to thwart Dick Whittington from finding dame and fortune.

Leeds lass and Fame Academy finalist, Carolynne Good, stars as the beautiful Alice Fitzwarren, the future wife of Dick and local TV personality Faye Barker guarentees a magical sparkle as the fairy.

Children from the Shipley-based dance school, DM Academy will be dancing as the legendary Alhambra "Sunbeams". This tradition was started by the Alhambra's founder Francis Laidler during the First World War, over the decades hundreds of children have appeared in the Alhambra's pantomimes and have lasting memories of their experiences.

Local man Rob Urquhart has been cast as the "Sultan of Mazinga", after fending off fierce competition in the recent "Panto Idol" auditions. 23-year-old Rob, who is from Woodlesford, and works in a family owned car-part business, won the coveted role after auditioning in front of a panel of panto experts at the Alhambra Theatre, then facing a tough public vote on TV.

Rob says he was thrilled when his name was called out at Bradford's Christmas lights switch-on: "I was extremely nervous at the auditions up until the point when I was on stage in front of the judges. They really made me feel at ease and the nerves just vanished. All the other people auditioning were really friendly and it was a great day."

Rob is a recent convert to acting after appearing in a local amateur production of A Midsummer Night's Dream earlier this year. Before that he was a racing driver! He played the part of Francis Flute in the Shakespeare play, and enjoyed it so much he decided to continue acting whenever he could. He now attends private acting lessons.

Dick Whittington runs at Bradford's Alhambra from Friday 17 December 2004 to Sunday 6 February 2005.