The bear who put the bear into Beartown will be bringing you all a free present this Christmas.

With nearly all pantomimes being cancelled this year, there was a worry people would be missing out on the festive tradition, but fear not, if you tune into Canalside Radio 102.8FM on Saturday, 12th December at 5.30pm, again on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm and on New Year's Day at 5.30pm you can listen to Congleton's very own eco icon Cong Bear in his first Christmas Panto.

A Cong Bear Christmas has joined forces with Cinderella and other familiar traditional characters to save Christmas in Pantomime land.

You can also listen to the panto via your smart speaker or through the Congleton and Macc app or via Canalside Radio's webpage.

The pantomime was written by Cong Bear's co-creator Stuart Neild, with additional input from the newly formed Black Sheep Theatre who will be performing the pantomime.

It was a chance meeting earlier on in the year before talk of lockdowns and crisis when the idea of Black Sheep Theatre sprang to life.

Howard Ball, Cherryll Topham and John Topham were dinning at the Old Saw Mill at the same time as Stuart and his wife, Sharon, the other co-creator of Cong Bear was.

Talks between the two parties turned to the theatre and Stuart told the others about a play he had recently written and hey presto Black Sheep Theatre was born.

Of course, things never run smoothly, Covid happens and the theatre came to a halt.

But never to be deterred an idea was hit on to produce an audio play for the radio station Stuart presented on.

The original play Stuart had written was put on hold to bring A Cong Bear Christmas to life to bring some Christmas cheer into everybody's lives.

Howard Ball plays Cong Bear

Howard has had years of fun and entertainment in the amateur theatre starting with follow spots, props, directing plays like the award winning 'Good Night Mr Tom' and 'Murder at Checkmate Manor'.

He adored being Alfie the accident-prone waiter in 'One Man Two Govnors' he has always loved playing the village idiot in Congleton Panto's.

He is director and co-writer of this Cong Bear Panto. Howard is co-founder of 'Black Sheep Theatre Company' and vice-chair of the very successful 'Congleton Players'

John Topham plays The Cheshire Cat

John is a co-founder of Black Sheep Theatre and is usually found backstage, either building sets or involved in lighting or sound.

He has over 20 years' experience behind the scenes having toured with a professional acting company in London, the South East and with local theatre.

He is now putting his scouse accent to good use as the Cheshire Cat in this year's panto, although he still prefers to be 'off stage'.

Cherryll Topham plays the Witch and Buttercup

Cherryll is a co-founder of Black Sheep Theatre and has been acting for over 25 years in both amateur and professional productions throughout the UK.

Cherryll recently played the elderly 'Abby Brewster' in Arsenic & Old Lace and won a Noda Best Actress award for her portrayal of the sassy 'Dolly' in One Man Two Guvnors at the Daneside last year.

She is very excited to finally play both a wicked witch and an ugly sister in a panto in this collaboration between Black Sheep Theatre and Canalside Radio.

Craig Eccleston plays The Genie and The Giant

Craig has been with 'The Congleton Players' for about eight years and has played numerous hilarious characters, ranging from the German U boat captain in 'Dads Army', to playing Hugo in the 'Vicar of Dibley' to the memorable Lord Flashheart in 'Blackadder Goes Forth'.

Karen Wood plays The Fairy Godmother

Karen says: "Drama is my passion, which started many years ago at a school outing to theatre!

"I realised then that's what I wanted to do, I acted in school plays then I joined a drama group at 17 and loved it ever since."

Karen has had a variety of roles from girl next door, bitchy scheming sister, school mistress, bit on the side, woman playing man who plays woman, blackmailing socialite and a calendar girl.

She has played different roles such as butler, colonel and cook in award winning show, Checknate Manor and as time ticks on, it is now mother and grandmother roles including fairy godmother.

Fraser Ball plays Humpty Dumpty

Fraser attends Quinta School in Congleton. This is his first venture into theatre and radio. He is looking forward to possibly developing his theatrical skills in the future.

Annabel Jackson plays Cinders

She was bitten by the 'bug' of acting while playing the role of Ginnie in the award winning, 'Goodnight Mr Tom' last year and has been chomping at the bit to perform again.

Before her starring role as Cinders in 'A Cong Bear Christmas', Annabel has performed numerous times at the Daneside Theatre for Louise Carter's School of Dance and last Christmas she thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the brilliant panto 'Robin Hood'.

She is an accomplished ice skater, appearing in two Christmas shows at Altrincham Ice Rink as well as a talented gymnast, having competed in national competitions.

Arran Johnstone plays The Prince

Arran started performing arts with Louise Carter School of Dance and later in primary school took up drama.

He played Monsieur Thenardier in a school production of Les Miserables, then having joined Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre, he performed as Farmer Bunce in Fantastic Mr Fox and one of the Winkies in The Wizard of Oz.

Last year Arran received three Noda nominations for these parts and for his part as Zach in 'Goodnight Mr Tom' with Congleton Players.

Phoebe Jackson plays the Gingerbread Girl

Even at nine-years-old Phoebe is no stranger to performing on the big stage. She has performed at the Daneside Theatre twice with Louise Carter's school of dance.

And, notably, as no less than five separate supporting roles for the quite brilliant 'Goodnight Mr Tom' last year.

Phoebe has attended Helen O' Grady's drama academy and performed in their annual show where she received a certificate of merit for her strong, well projected use of voice.

Robin Jackson Plays the Mirror and Scrooge

Robin's first starring role on the stage was to be 'Peter' in the stage production of Blue Remembered Hills, but his dreams of treading the boards were put on hold by the pandemic.

The last time Robin performed in front of an audience was as The Scarecrow in Cheadle Primary school's 'The Wizard of Oz' in 1980. But he is no stranger to performance in a different context.

As a teacher at The King's School, he spends several hours a day pontificating in front of teenagers, and he brings his considerable voice talents to The Black Sheep Christmas panto this year.

In between teaching and acting, Robin somehow finds the time to be an author of a series of fantasy novels.

Mandy Jackson will be playing the Queen of Hearts

The 'dark horse' of the group. Before donning the regal attire of the chilling Queen of Hearts, the 'crowning' performance of Mandy's stage career, like her husband's, came in the early 1980's.

Her graceful duckling brought tears to the eyes of those watching (in a good way) that day, so we are informed. But Mandy has not allowed that talent to go completely to waste.

As a dynamic Ofsted certified 'Outstanding' teacher of Psychology, she has thrilled her students at Alderley Edge school for girls with song and dance routines in the classroom ever since.

Simon Hoffman Plays The Wolf

Simon wandered into a pub for a pint a decade ago and ended up literally going The Full Monty.

After years of playing the North West scene in his band, Hazzard, Simon has still not escaped from theatreland and has appeared in multiple musicals and plays, including Blackadder Goes Forth (in his dream role of Melchett), Little Shop Of Horrors (as a man-eating plant), The 39 Steps, Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages and the Titfield Thunderbolt, for which he received a brace of Noda nominations.

Simon is currently looking forward to playing one of his heroes, Alan Bennett in the up-and-coming Lady in the Van. The Cong Bear represents Simon's debut in pantomime.

Lewis Robinson will be playing Merlin

Lewis has been performing since he was five-years-old when he started dancing with Louise Carter School of Dance.

He started singing and acting at the age of ten and starred in Happy Days, Spamalot, and 42nd Street with SOL Summer School.

Since joining Eaton Bank Academy he performed in Chicago and Peter Pan.

In 2018 he joined Centre Stage Youth Theatre and performed in CATS and other shows. Last year, Lewis starred in 'Goodnight Mr Tom' playing the role of George Fletcher.

Linda Davenport will be playing Primrose

Linda started her love for theatre 20 years ago when she appeared in the chorus of 'Calamity Jane'.

She has had two outings with 'Congleton Players' as the very memorable Alice in 'The Vicar of Dibley'.

Linda has directed Pantomimes and acted in them. She has been backstage or onstage for all those twenty years. She recently assisted directing the award-winning 'Good Night Mr Tom'.

Ronnie Ball will be playing The White Rabbit

Ronnie is keen to develop his acting skills. This is his first performance out of the school environment.

His Dad Phil was in Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre in the late 90's, so Ronnie is hoping to follow in his dad's footsteps in London where he lives.

Beth Palmer - Narrator

Born and bred in Newcastle, Beth spent her youth treading the boards of the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, rubbing shoulders with Ant and Dec at the stage bar.

Like most Geordies of a certain age she was also an extra on Byker Grove. This pantomime marks her return to acting.

The pantomime will be broadcasted on Canalside Radio 102.8 FM at 5:50pm on 12th December, again on Christmas Eve at 7:30 pm and 5:30pm on New Year's Day.