With panto season just around the corner, we've had a look through our archives to find some of the dames, villains and cows of yesteryear. Oh yes we have!

The annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal is a Norwich institution, with everything from Dick Whittington and His Cat to Mother Goose being performed down the years.

Just this week the stars of the panto's 2021 edition were announced.

In 1982, Kathy Staff, well-known for her roles in Open All Hours and Last of the Summer Wine starred in Mother Goose alongside Rod Hull and Emu among others.

%image(15623938, type="article-full", alt="1982 Theatre Royal Panto Mother Goose")

%image(15623939, type="article-full", alt="Wayne Sleep as The Ringmaster in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The 1984 Theatre Royal Panto. Picture: EDP Library.")

%image(15623940, type="article-full", alt="Wayne Sleep in Aladdin., the 1987 Theatre Royal Panto. Picture: EDP Library.")

%image(15623941, type="article-full", alt="The babes, Alison Horth and Toby Kassell, shelter from the winter snow in Wayland Wood with some others from the Theatre Royal panto. Pictured from left: Bobby Bennett, Graham Fletcher, Debbie McGee and Charlie Daze. Date: Dec 1985")

%image(15623942, type="article-full", alt="Wayne Sleep in Aladdin., the 1987 Theatre Royal Panto. Picture: EDP Library.")

%image(15623943, type="article-full", alt="Goldilocks panto at the Maddermarket Theatre, 1985. Picture: Archant Library")

%image(15623944, type="article-full", alt="Otherwise Charlie Daze, as the dame, in the Norwich Theatre Royal's pantomine, "Babes in the Wood" which opened an eight-week season last night - 1985")

%image(15623947, type="article-full", alt="Nicholas Parsons and Dora Bryan are set for seven weeks of fun as Dick Whittington open the new panto season at Norwich Theatre Royal, 15th December 1993. Picture: Archant Library")

Sale of the Century star Nicholas Parsons played Dick in 1993, while former Doctor Who, Sylvester McCoy once featured in Cinderella.

%image(15623948, type="article-full", alt="IC144: Robinson Cruesoe pantomime cast. L to R: Johnny Worthy, Barry Quest, Michele Summers (Polly Perkkins), Yvonne Marsh (Principal Boy and Director), Paul Henry (Billy Crusoe), Ros Murray, Joe Black (Mrs Crusoe). Dated around November 1980. Photo: Archant Library")

%image(15623949, type="article-full", alt="Pic for Eastern Daily Press story - Rowan Entwistle copy - Panto Photocall for Jack and the Beanstalk, at the Theatre Royal - Richard Gauntlett, Daisy the Cow, and Babes.")

Richard Gauntlett has been the dame at the Theatre Royal for over 20 years and here he is starring in Jack and the Beanstalk.

%image(15623950, type="article-full", alt="SYLVESTER MC COY AND SOPHIE LAWRENCE WHO WILL APPEAR IN THE CINDERELLA THIS YEARS PANTO AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, NORWICH.")