Pantomime lovers are sure to have a ball this week as the curtain goes up on a community organisation’s production of Cinderella.

The Neilston Players will be performing the classic fairytale to 450 people across Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.

Being staged in the hall at Neilston Parish Church, it will be the group’s first in-person performance to an audience since a pre-Covid production of Jack and the Beanstalk in 2019.

News of the return has been greatly received, with tickets to two of the performances selling out within days of going on sale.

“It’s a good family show, a good laugh and a bit of singalong and dance-along,” said Dave Dewhurst, the production’s director and the group’s chairperson, who is playing one of the ugly sisters.

“We work with proper sound, everyone will be miked up and it’s a full lighting show.

“The cast has put in a lot of hard work and we’ve got a great behind-the-scenes team.

“This year, there has been some great help from Caroline Lamont and we would also not have been able to do this show without Susan Lamont. She looks after all the props and backstage and she is absolutely amazing.”

While more established members will be making a return to the stage, two newcomers will take on the lead roles, with Eastwood High pupil Emily

Mullen playing Cinderella and fellow 16-year-old Caitlyn O’Neill, who attends St Luke’s High, playing the prince.

The group also works closely with the McLellan Dance and Arts Academy, in Neilston, and has joined forces with the organisation to bring in children to play some of the parts.

To find out more about getting involved with the group, which is for those aged 16 and over, send an email to neilstonplayers@gmail.com.