NEWPORT’S pantomime at The Riverfront promises to be a monster this year.

Beauty and the Beast will be held from Tuesday, December 3 and will finish on Sunday, January 5 2014.

Robert Vernon plays a selfish prince, destined to spend the rest of his life hidden in his castle as a Beast.

But the resourceful Beauty, played by Elin Llwyd (Pobol Y Cwm, Stwnch), rushes to the rescue with her madcap friends.

The baddie Scaramouche is played by Jay Worthy (Brunel, the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony) and seasoned Riverside Dame Lee Mengo is Dame Dominique Derrière. Her slapstick son ‘Potty’ Pascal will be played by Richard Elis (EastEnders).

Monsieur Bertrand, Beauty’s father, is played by Mike Onslow and Lizzie Franks and Nerine Skinner play the Beast’s stupid servants Croissant and Baguette.

It is being directed by Colin Blumenau and by the same team that produced favourites Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Cinderella and last year's performance, Robin Hood.

The theatre has promised the most thrilling pantomime this side of the Channel Tunnel and says the show is crammed with comedy chaos, magical music and a big dollop of seasonal sparkle.

To buy tickets visit The Riverfront’s website, www.newport.gov.uk/riverfrontarts, call 01633 656757 or visit the theatre in person.

For updates, follow the theatre on Twitter @riverfrontarts, the hashtag #beautyandthebeast or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheRiverfront.