The Grand's free family fun day!

The Grand Theatre is holding a free family fun day at Stanley Park's bandstand from 1-3pm on Wednesday 28 August. The event will launch this year's swashbuckling pantomime Peter Pan, presented by Martin Dodd for UK Productions.

On the day you can meet all the stars of Peter Pan! Taking on the infamous role of Hook is ex- Emmerdale bad boy Tom Lister, Smee will be played by Grand Theatre favourite and BBC Radio Lancashire's Steve Royle, Mrs Darling and the Mermaid will be played by Radio Wave's Hayley Kay and finally Jordan Lee Davies from The Voice UK (BBC) will be playing Peter Pan.

There'll be lots of free, exciting things for everyone to do on the day, including face painting, a pirate ship bouncy castle, children's caricatures by Mr Fundoo and a free chocolate gold coin giveaway from the pirate's treasure chest.

The Grand will also be holding a pirates and fairies fancy dress competition for children, the winner of which will win a family ticket to Peter Pan. The competition will be judged at the Radio Wave Stage at 2:45pm.

Tom Lister is best known for his role as Carl King in ITV's Emmerdale, a role he has played for the last 9 years. Aside from this, Tom has also appeared in The Bill, Doctors and Heartbeat. His theatre credits to date include playing Ralph in Accrington Pals (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Titus/Fool in Bill Shakespeare's Italian Job (Gilded Balloon - Edinburgh), Pan in Love's Mistress (Globe Theatre) and Oberon in Midsummer Night's Dream (Settle Festival of Theatre).

Tom is currently planning a 2000 mile bike ride across Europe to raise awareness and support the fight against Human Trafficking. For more information please see www.hopeforjustice.com.

Playing Smee in Peter Pan in his eleventh year in Grand Theatre panto is comedian, actor, writer and BBC Radio presenter Steve Royle.

For over 12 years Steve could be found in the guise of Mad Edgar the court jester at Camelot theme park where he presented over 2000 Crazy Juggling Shows. He has also supported both Peter Kay and Dave Spikey on tour and was voted Entertainer of the Year at the recent Red Rose Awards.

His many TV appearances have included Phoenix Nights, Max & Paddy, That's Entertainment (Granada), Stand-up Britain (Granada), Give Your Mate A Break (Granada), The Afternoon Show, Talk Of The North and The Things You Do For Love.

Steve is also co-founder of the Slaughterhouse- Live ("Laughter" with an "S") character comedy nights. The group regularly perform at The Comedy Store and they were nominated in the best touring show category at the Manchester Comedy Awards, losing out to Peter Kay!

Mrs Darling and the mermaid will be played by Blackpool's favourite Radio Wave presenter, Hayley Kay. Hayley is a well known presenter at events across the Fylde Coast including Miss Blackpool, Lytham Proms and this year she will be hosting the 101st Illumination Switch On Celebrations at the Tower Festival Headland alongside Jonathan Ross and The Script.

Hayley has hosted School's Alive at The Grand Theatre since 2002 and works for various local charities. She is an ambassador for the Blackpool Carers Centre, Arthritis Care and Blackpool Scouts & Girlguiding UK.

This Christmas, Hayley is delighted to be returning to the beautiful Grand Theatre to play Mrs Darling and the Mermaid.

Hayley said, "I had such an amazing time playing the Fairy Godmother last year; I jumped at the chance to be part of it again!"

Finally, playing the role of Peter Pan is the talented Jordan Lee-Davies, who is best known for singing his way into Will I Am's team on The Voice UK (BBC).

Jordan trained at Guildford School of Acting and has performed in numerous concerts and productions including; Jordan Lee Davies: in Concert (St James Theatre), Secret Garden: in Concert (playing Dickon, Kings Head/Greenwich), The International Magic Tenors Absolutely live tour! (European tour) and The Tailors Daughter (WNYO, World Premiere, WMC/ Belfast Opera House).

Martin Dodd for UK Production presents the enchanting tale of Peter Pan in December this year after the hugely successful 2012 pantomime Cinderella.

In Edwardian London, Wendy Darling tells bedtime stories to her brothers of swashbuckling swordplay with the formidable pirate leader Captain Hook and the heroics of the playful Peter Pan. But the children become the heroes of an even greater story when Peter Pan flies into their nursery one night and leads them over moonlit rooftops to the lush jungles of the mysterious kingdom of Neverland.

Wendy and her brothers join Peter and his friends the Lost Boys in an exhilarating life, free from grown-up rules, whilst also facing the inevitable showdown with Hook and his pirates.