The month-long run of performances of Eden Court's spellbinding panto Sleeping Beauty got under way last night.

Attracting thousands of people from across the Highlands, the annual panto has been the Inverness venue's most important show of the year.

Last year's Peter Pen show was Eden Court's “most financially successful” pantomime on record.

Eden Court chief executive Rebecca Holt said: "Panto is a really special moment in the year for Eden Court. As our panto director and dame Steven Wren says – we’re in the business of making memories.

"Some 35,000 people will come through our doors to see Sleeping Beauty over the coming five weeks, including over 4000 school children, many of who will be experiencing live theatre for the first time.

"The affection and loyalty that local audiences have to Eden Court’s panto is really remarkable – with generations of families attending, sometimes more than once during the run. As a business, the footfall at this time of year and the income that it generates it vital to our sustainability as an organisation here to serve the Highlands year-round."

According to the venue, Sleeping Beauty will have everything you have come to expect from the Eden Court pantomime with a hilarious comic, an outrageous dame, a delightfully wicked baddie, marvellous musical numbers and tons of slapstick fun.

Mr Wren said: "I’ve been doing the pantos in Inverness for 11 years now and every year, the joy of the audience responses sees me through the season. So warm, so friendly.

"The other thing I love about Inverness is its location. I spend my days off driving into the countryside and walking in forests, seeing stunning hillsides and waterfalls, gorges and coasts. It’s how I get back all the energy I spend doing the show. Inverness truly is my happy place."

The show runs to January 7.

Gallery1

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.