Upstagers’ 27th annual pantomime Snow White opens on January 24, starring a host of local young people.

Snow White is a fairytale known across much of Europe and is today one of the most famous fairytales worldwide.

The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

At the beginning of the story, a queen sits sewing at an open window during a winter snowfall when she pricks her finger with her needle, causing three drops of blood to drip into the freshly- fallen snow on the black windowsill.

Admiring the beauty of the resulting colour combination, she says to herself, “Oh how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.”

Soon after that, the Queen gives birth to a baby girl who is as white as snow, as red as blood and with hair as black as ebony. They name her Snow White, but sadly, the Queen dies after giving birth to her.

After a year has passed, the King takes a new wife, who is beautiful but also wicked and vain.

The new queen possesses a magic mirror which she asks every morning: “Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?”

The mirror always replies: “My queen, you are the fairest in the land.” The Queen is always delighted with this, but as Snow White grows up she becomes even more beautiful than the wicked Queen.

What are Queen Evillene’s wicked plans and will Snow White and her friends prevail? Come along to the King’s Hall, Ilkley, and all will be revealed.

Audiences are promised wonderful musical numbers, spectacular sets, beautiful costumes, oodles of young talent, bags of energy, lots of audience participation and fun for all the family in abundance.

Snow White will be on stage from January 24 to February 1, at 7.15pm, with Saturday matinees at 2.15pm.

Online booking is available at upstagers.org.uk or telephone (01943) 607944. The box office at The Barn, at the rear of the Midland Hotel, will be open from 11am to 1pm daily from Sunday, January 17. Prices: £15, concessions £12, family ticket £50.

In March, Upstagers will present the musical phenomenon, Les Miserables: School Edition at the King’s Hall.

Visit the Upstagers website at upstagers.org.uk for more details.