A Norfolk boy's cloak design will be worn by Little Red Riding Hood throughout an upcoming Norwich pantomime.

Norwich Evening News: Ethan Chapman, 5, has designed the Little Red Riding Hood cape in this year's panto at The Garage. Pictured with Lisa Wright as Little Red Riding Hood.Picture: ANTONY KELLYEthan Chapman, 5, has designed the Little Red Riding Hood cape in this year's panto at The Garage. Pictured with Lisa Wright as Little Red Riding Hood.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

Five-year-old Ethan Chapman, who lives in Upton near Acle, drew the winning design in the competition held by The Garage theatre in Norwich.

Ethan got to meet some of the cast from the production, including Little Red Riding Hood, who was sporting her new cloak.

Ethan was delighted to win the competition and said: 'It felt really good to win - I've never won a competition before. We nearly run out of crayons doing the design because it took a lot of colouring.'

The winning design is covered with apples and Ethan says he was inspired by one of his books at home.

Norwich Evening News: Ethan Chapman, 5, has designed the Little Red Riding Hood cape in this year's panto at The Garage. Picture: ANTONY KELLYEthan Chapman, 5, has designed the Little Red Riding Hood cape in this year's panto at The Garage. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

He said: 'I have a story about Little Red Riding Hood where she has a basket of apples so that is how I knew she liked apples. Red apples - she doesn't like green apples and I don't like green apples.'

As further reward for winning the competition, Ethan has been given a family ticket to the show, a term of performing arts classes at The Garage and his own miniature version of his winning cape.

Adam Taylor, chief executive of The Garage, said it made sense to involve audiences with the production of the show.

He said: 'The show is completely interactive. They journey through the forest with Little Red Riding Hood and there is a natural synergy, so why wouldn't we have the audience design the costume? Although we won't have them up a ladder rigging up the lighting.'

Choosing a winner was not an easy job for director Daniel Burgess, but Ethan's design stood out amongst the 50 plus applications.

He said: 'It was really difficult choosing because there were loads of brilliant entries, but we chose Ethan's because it was bright and colourful and the originality of the hood really captured everybody's imaginations.'

Tracey Chapman, Ethan's mum, said: 'He was delighted when he found out he'd won. I told him when he got home from school and I recorded his reaction on my phone. It was quite funny, he was so happy - he couldn't believe it.'

• My First Panto: Little Red Riding Hood will run from December 1-29 at The Garage. Book tickets on 01603 598646 or at www.thegarage.org.uk